Earlier governments at the Centre paid no attention to the needs and aspirations of the citizens of Himachal Pradesh. As early as last century, many countries, and even some states like Gujarat, managed to provide their citizens with basic amenities like toilets, rural roads, and modern healthcare. In India, however, the earlier government made even this basic care difficult for the common people. Hilly areas were the worst hit by this. However, New India is overcoming the challenges of the past today and growing rapidly. Amenities that should have reached the people in the last century are being made available now.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since coming to power in 2014, has ensured that the amenities of the 20th century reached people in Himachal Pradesh and the state is connected with the modern facilities of the 21st century. Rural roads have been constructed at double the speed, and broadband connectivity is being taken to Gram Panchayats. PM Narendra Modi has fulfilled the aspirations of 21st-century India and the state of Himachal Pradesh.
Unlike earlier times when Himachal was valued less on its strength and more based on the number of its parliamentary seats, the long-pending demand for state educational institutes has been tackled with urgency since 2014. Himachal had to wait several decades to get IIT, IIIT IIM, and AIIMS.
Healthcare
The prime minister's vision and commitment to strengthening health services across the state of Himachal Pradesh and the country was showcased again through the dedication of AIIMS Bilaspur to the nation. The Hospital, whose foundational stone was laid by the Prime Minister in October 2017, is being established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
Himachal Pradesh became one of the first states in India where 100% of eligible adults have been vaccinated for both doses, leading the fight against COVID-19 .
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park in October 2022, which will be built at a cost of over Rs 1900 crore. This aims to reduce dependence on API/drug imports. The Prime Minister informed that Himachal Pradesh has played a crucial role in making India the number one medicine manufacturer in the world, and its possibilities are only going to increase. The world has witnessed the strength of the medicines manufactured in Himachal Pradesh. He further pointed out that now that raw materials for medicine manufacturing will be produced in Himachal Pradesh at Bulk Drug Park, India's dependency on other nations will decrease significantly.
On October 5 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the AIIMS in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur, constructed at more than ₹ 1,470 crore. The Hospital has also set up the Centre for Digital Health to provide health services in the tribal and inaccessible tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh. The Hospital provides specialist health services through health camps in the inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan regions like Kaza, Saluni, and Keylong. The Hospital admits students for the MBBS nursing courses. PM Modi laid the foundation for IIT Una in 2017 to facilitate technical education.
Development projects
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of around 31 km long project for four lanings of the National Highway from Pinjore to Nalagarh on NH-105, worth over Rs. 1690 crore. The project road is a major connecting link for Ambala, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Solan /Shimla traffic towards Bilaspur, Mandi and Manali. About 18 km of this four-lane national highway falls under Himachal Pradesh, and the remaining portion falls in Haryana. This highway will ensure better transport facilities in Nalagarh-Baddi, the industrial hub of Himachal Pradesh, and give a fillip to further industrial development in the region. It will also boost tourism in the state. Till 2014, the length of National Highways in the State was 2,196 km. In 2018, the length has been increased to 2,642 km.
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Medical Device Park at Nalagarh, which will be built at a cost of about Rs 350 crore. MoUs of more than Rs. 800 crore have already been signed for setting up industries in this Medical Device Park. The project has the potential to enhance employment opportunities in the region significantly.
Prime Minister also inaugurated the Government Hydro Engineering College at Bandla. Costing about Rs 140 crore, the college will help make available a trained workforce for hydropower projects, in which Himachal Pradesh is one of the leading states. It will help to upskill the youth and provide ample job opportunities in the hydropower sector.
The Modi government has launched two hydropower projects in Chamba in 2022. These projects will generate 270 million units of electricity annually, and Himachal Pradesh is expected to get annual revenue of around Rs. 110 crore from these projects. 2 Cities from Himachal Pradesh have been selected under the National Smart Cities Mission. The Government of India has transferred Rs. 245.00 crore for Dharamshala and Rs. 194.00 crore for Shimla under the programme. PM Modi flagged off the inaugural run of the new Vande Bharat Express from Amb Andaura, Una, to New Delhi on October 13 2022.
PM Modi dedicated the world's longest highway tunnel to the nation. The Atal Tunnel has connected the Lahaul-Spiti region with Manali, thus reducing the travel time between Manali and Leh by 5 hours.
PM Narendra Modi became the first Prime Minister to participate in the International Kullu Dussehra celebrations in 2022. The Festival is unique because it is the congregation of more than 300 Deities of the Valley. Prime Minister witnessed this divine Rath Yatra and the grand assembly of the deities in the historic Kullu Dussehra celebrations.
The Modi government has sanctioned the project 'Development of Himalayan Circuit: Kiarighat, Shimla, Hatkoti, Manali, Kangra Dharamshala, Bir, Palampur, Chamba in Himachal Pradesh' under the Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2016-17 for ₹ 86.85 crores. The Ministry has identified Maa Chintpurni in Himachal Pradesh for development under the PRASHAD Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Dussehra Rath Yatra in Kullu, Himachal PradeshPM Narendra Modi gifted Chamba Rumal, Kangra miniature paintings, Kinnauri Shawl, Himachali Mukhate, Kullu Shawl, Kanal Brass Set to various world leaders during the G20 summit in Indonesia in 2022 showing the unique handicrafts of Himachal Pradesh on a global stage.
Unlike earlier times when Himachal was valued less on its strength and more based on the number of its Parliamentary seats, the long pending demand of people in the state is being tackled with urgency by the Modi government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes the golden period of Himachal's development has begun in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. This golden period will take Himachal to that height of development for which the people in the states have waited for decades.
