Ahmedabad, Sep 17 (Deccan Chronicle): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the world's second biggest dam, Sardar Sarovar Dam, and said citizens should leave no stone unturned in creating a 'New India' by 2022.

Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, Modi said, "Let us leave no stone unturned in creating a ‘New India’ by 2022, when we mark 75 years of India’s freedom."

He further thanked the people for attending the event and extended his greetings on Vishwakarma Jayanti.

"I salute all those working hard to build the nation," he added.

Modi, after performing a puja unveiled the plaque dedicating the dam to the nation on his 67th birthday.

The foundation stone of the dam was laid on April 5, 1961 by the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. However, it took 56 years to complete its construction.

Modi's visit, which has added significance as assembly elections are due in Gujarat by the year-end, is the second in less than a week after he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the state and launched the bullet train project.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Modi had stressed that the dam will start a new chapter in the prosperity of the state.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had called the project as "Gujarat’s lifeline" noting that the agriculture income and production of farmers in the state more than doubled because of it.

he height of the dam was recently raised to 138.68 metres, which will allow maximum 'usable storage' of 4.73 million acre feet of water.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Congress has claimed that the project is not complete and canals of 43,000 km length were yet to be built despite the BJP ruling the state for 22 years.