Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated 10 development projects worth Rs 4,700 crore to the public in Chandigarh, stressing that the Union Territory’s infrastructure growth acts as a force multiplier for Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
In a notable political moment, Congress MP Manish Tewari shared the stage with the Prime Minister during the high-profile event. The launch followed Modi’s flagging off of India’s first hydrogen-fueled passenger train from Jind, Haryana. He is scheduled to travel to Jalandhar next to inaugurate 75 modernised railway stations under the Amrit Bharat initiative, interact with religious leaders, and address a mass gathering.
Highlighting healthcare reforms, Modi said nearly 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are providing screenings for diabetes and hypertension, while the e-Sanjeevani portal has brought doctor consultations into homes. He noted that hospital-based child deliveries now exceed 90%, reducing mortality rates, and cited WHO data showing India’s anti-TB drive has cut cases by 21%.
The Prime Minister credited the addition of 15 new AIIMS institutes and the Ayushman Health Infrastructure Mission for strengthening India’s medical framework. He praised Chandigarh as a model of urban planning and healthcare, lauding IPS officer Inderjit Singh Sidhu, a Padma awardee, for his “Swachhata se Swagat” campaign.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda added that India has expanded from one AIIMS to 23, while medical colleges have grown from 387 to over 818, with plans to add 75,000 more seats. He recalled Chandigarh as Modi’s early organisational base, where he laid the foundation for the party’s northern outreach.
