As Gujarat prepares to organise the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2015, followed by the Seventh Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit event here in January, the Ministry of Railways is likely to sign an MoU with the State Government to develop and upgrade railway stations at Sabarmati in Ahmedabad and Surat.
During his meeting with the Chief Minister, Anandiben Patel, in New Delhi, the Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu, gave this assurance, an official spokesperson said here on Monday.
The Divas will be held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar from January 7 to 9. Compared to previous years, more than four times registrations have already been done by NRIs and PIOs, and the number is expected to rise.
The Chief Minister said a world-class exhibition will be opened on the first day of the event in which the cultural diversity of India will be displayed. Exhibitions of different departments of Government of India as well as State Governments will focus on specific schemes and initiatives. Cultural programmes will also be held during the three-day event.
To commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to India this day in 1915, PBD is celebrated on January 9 every year to mark the contribution of overseas Indian community to the country’s development.
This year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be more significant as it is 100th year of Gandhiji's return to India. the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will inaugurate this event, to be marked by the State Government establishing a permanent exhibition, 'Salt Mound' on the Mahatma’s life journey, at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
The second day of the event will be marked by cultural programmes showcasing cultural diversity of India, a play on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and his role in the Independence Movement, while the third day will bring together participants to the International Kite Festival on January 10 at Sabarmati Riverfront.