Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow with thousands of participants in Gujarat's Diamond City Surat, which has been spectacularly decked up by the civic body to welcome Prime Minister.
Thousands chanted “Modi Modi” during the 11 km long roadshow from airport to circuit house that lasted almost three hours while Mr Modi stood and waved from his SUV, flanked by over 10,000 riders on motorbikes.
Beside a laser show and giant screens along the roads and at all cross roads, helicopters were used to shower flower petals on Mr Modi’s statue in the city.
The Surat Municipal Corporation and State administration have close to ₹5 crore on decorations across the city from lights along the 11 km route, bill boards and large screens, flags and a laser show.
Mr. Modi will spend the night at the Circuit House. He is scheduled to attend a series of events on Monday starting with the inauguration of a multi-speciality hospital in the city, inauguation of an ice cream plant and a cattle feed factory set up by Surat dairy, Sumul.
His road show in the diamond city is being seen as curtain raiser to the BJP's campaign in the State ahead of Assembly polls scheduled for later this year.
After wrapping up events in Surat, Mr. Modi will visit Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli where he will address a public meeting, inaugurate new projects and distribute aid to around 21,000 beneficiaries.