PM Modi to Launch Banas Dairy Projects Worth Rs 407 Crore in Gujarat
PM Modi visits Gujarat to inaugurate the BBBRC, a French fries plant, and ASRS facility, boosting the dairy sector in Banaskantha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Gujarat on October 30 and 31, 2026. A major highlight of this visit will be the inauguration of three groundbreaking projects by Banas Dairy in the Banaskantha district, collectively valued at Rs 407.56 crore. These initiatives aim to modernize the dairy infrastructure and introduce innovative processing capabilities to the region.
Boosting Genetic Excellence: The BBBRC
The centerpiece of the inaugurations is the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) in Bhildi. Built at a cost of Rs 324.77 crore and spanning 127 acres, the centre is designed as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for animal breeding.
The BBBRC is a strategic effort to transform India's animal breeding sector through innovation and genetic excellence. The project received financial support from NABARD under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) and technical guidance from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Furthermore, the Central Government's Rashtriya Gokul Mission sanctioned Rs 38.83 crore for the centre, which includes Rs 2 crore specifically for donor animals.
Innovation in Logistics and Processing
Beyond breeding, the Prime Minister will virtually inaugurate two other high-tech facilities designed to streamline production and distribution:
Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)
Located in Palanpur and built for Rs 31.14 crore, the ASRS is a fully automated warehousing logistics system. It features nine levels of steel racks with a capacity of 11,000 pallets, specifically designed for the efficient handling and dispatch of Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk. Because Banas Dairy developed this system in-house, the resulting cost savings will directly benefit the 4.18 lakh milk producers associated with the dairy.
Integrated French Fries Plant
In Sanadar, within the Vav-Tharad district, a French fries processing plant built at a cost of Rs 51.65 crore will be inaugurated. This facility is unique in India as it boasts a fully integrated production chain. The process covers everything from developing plantlets in test tubes and cultivating seed crops to cold storage and final delivery. Notably, work began in April 2026 to scale up production capacity from 2 tonnes to 5 tonnes per hour.
Expanding into Green Energy
The Prime Minister's visit will not only be about inaugurations but also about future growth. He is scheduled to virtually lay the foundation stones for two new Bio-CNG plants in Tharad and Radhanpur, signaling a move toward sustainable energy within the dairy ecosystem.
High-Profile Attendance
The event will see the presence of several key dignitaries, including:
- Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat.
- Shankarbhai Chaudhary, Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and Chairman of Banas Dairy.
- Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat.
- Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
- Sangram Chaudhary, Managing Director of Banas Dairy.
The gathering will also include various Gujarat government ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and a large number of milk producers from the Banaskantha district, celebrating a significant leap in the cooperative dairy sector.