Vadodara Welcomes PM Modi, But Citizens Ask: Clean City for One Day or Accountable City Every Day?

Vadodara, September 9, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vadodara on Tuesday and inaugurated, dedicated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than ₹35,000 crore. Official announcements highlighted major railway, highway, urban-development, solar, housing and water-supply projects, including three key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and projects of the Gujarat government. According to published figures, the programme involved projects worth over ₹35,200 crore, including more than ₹32,606 crore of Central Government works and more than ₹2,597 crore of Gujarat Government projects. Railways formed the biggest share, with projects worth over ₹30,766 crore, including Western Dedicated Freight Corridor sections covering 326 km and costing around ₹20,700 crore. Highway projects were valued at around ₹1,780–1,840 crore, while Gujarat government projects included urban development, water supply, energy, roads, housing and transport works.

Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, Vadodara Municipal Corporation undertook a large cleanliness campaign under the “Swachhata Se Swagat” initiative. Reports stated that thousands of citizens, sanitation workers, NGOs, elected representatives and officials participated, while around 300 machines and vehicles were deployed on September 1 and around 320 machines and vehicles on September 3 for cleanliness operations across wards and public spaces. However, the grand welcome also raised an uncomfortable civic question: Why does Vadodara look cleaner, brighter and better managed only when a VIP visit is scheduled? Citizens have questioned the sudden focus on lighting, painting, road cleaning and beautification when many localities continue to face potholes, drainage failures and waterlogging during ordinary monsoon days.

Vadodara’s infrastructure concerns are not imaginary. In July 2026, local reports said even around one-and-a-half inches of rain caused flooding in low-lying areas and traffic trouble in parts of the city, while another report stated that rainfall on July 23–24 again exposed severe waterlogging, with knee-deep water on roads and sewage water entering homes in several areas.  Earlier in 2026, the Vadodara Municipal Commissioner reportedly pulled up officials after asphalt melted at multiple road locations and directed action against contractors if irregularities were found. The larger issue is public accountability. VMC’s 2026–27 draft budget was reported at ₹7,609 crore, with focus on roads, drainage, stormwater management, cleanliness and public facilities. For 2025–26, the municipal budget was reported at around ₹6,200 crore in local coverage. When such large public funds are planned or spent, citizens have every right to ask: What measurable improvement has reached the taxpayer?

The Prime Minister’s programme was also designed as a high-visibility event. The Indian Express reported that the Vadodara event included BookMyShow-based registrations, advanced 4K production, lighting, multimedia arrangements and a special elevated ramp arrangement. A VMC official said BookMyShow was used as a crowd-management tool, while around 6,000 invitees were registered for the programme. But one major figure remains unclear: How much public money was spent specifically on the visit arrangements? The project value of ₹35,200 crore is not the same as the event expenditure. Citizens deserve separate disclosure of costs incurred by the Central Government, Gujarat Government and VMC for security support, traffic arrangements, venue preparation, temporary lighting, painting, publicity, cleaning, barricading, stage production, transportation and manpower.

A particularly striking question raised by some citizens’ concerns the reported placement of garbage-collection vehicles near WUDA Circle. If the intention was to display VMC’s sanitation capacity, citizens ask why the same efficiency is not visible daily in every ward. If the vehicles were parked for operational reasons, VMC should clarify the reason publicly. Some citizens also suspect that large inaugurations and foundation-stone ceremonies before election season can become opportunities for political branding or contractor influence. These are serious concerns and should not be treated casually. If there is no wrongdoing, transparency is the easiest answer: publish work orders, tender details, payment vouchers, contractor names and third-party quality-audit reports.

Vadodara is known as Gujarat’s cultural city — a city of education, heritage, industry and civic pride. The people of Vadodara do not oppose development. They welcome genuine infrastructure, better roads, clean water, drainage, public transport and flood protection. But they also ask a simple question: If the city can be cleaned and decorated in a few days for one VIP visit, why can it not be maintained properly for citizens every day?

The real test of development is not how Vadodara looks on September 8, 2026. The real test is how Vadodara performs when there is ordinary rain, when a commuter rides through a pothole, when a shopkeeper faces waterlogging, when a child walks near an overflowing drain, and when taxpayers ask where their money went.

What do you believe as a reader? Was this a celebration of development, or should it become the starting point for a serious citizen-led audit of Vadodara’s civic spending? Share your views and ask VMC to publish the full expense statement.

Public Expenditure Questions That Must Be Answered

| Category | Published / Known Figure | Public Question |

| Central Government projects | Over ₹32,606 crore reported | What is the project-wise cost, timeline and contractor list? |

| Gujarat Government projects | Over ₹2,597 crore reported | Which projects are new, which are pending, and which are completed? |

| VMC / VUDA urban works | Part of state package; VUDA Ring Road Phase II, VMC office and water works included | What is the final cost and tender status? |

| VMC cleanliness drive | Machines, vehicles and manpower deployed; no consolidated cost publicly seen | What was the actual bill for cleaning, painting, lighting and logistics? |

| Event production and venue setup | 4K production, registration system and special arrangements reported | Who paid, who was contracted, and through what tender process? |