Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone and dedicates to the nation various development projects worth over ₹4,700 crore in Chandigarh, spanning healthcare, education and road infrastructure

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The Voice of Chandigarh News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various development projects worth over ₹4,700 crore in Chandigarh, spanning healthcare, education and road infrastructure. Highlighting the city’s unique status as an exemplary model for systematic national progress, he emphasized its reputation for ensuring a better lifestyle and ease of living. Acknowledging the divine grace of Maa Chandi over the region, he reaffirmed the ruling administration’s unwavering commitment to its continuous, structured growth. “The development of Chandigarh has always been the absolute priority of the current government,“ asserted Modi.

Detailing the financial investments made to modernize the urban landscape, the Prime Minister listed transformative initiatives such as the Integrated Command and Control Center, Smart Traffic Management, and Digital Governance. Congratulating the residents on the inauguration of health, education, and infrastructure projects, he highlighted the massive capital infusion driving these futuristic upgrades. “More than two and a half thousand crore rupees have been spent on this mission to make the city high-tech,“ noted Modi.

Emphasizing the broader regional impact of localized urban growth, the Prime Minister explained how enhancements in the city directly elevate the quality of life for neighboring populations across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. He specifically spotlighted the city’s indispensable and central role in regional healthcare delivery. “For medical services, Chandigarh is a mega hub in this entire region,“ observed Modi.

Singling out a local retired IPS officer for exceptional civic dedication, the Prime Minister lauded Inderjit Singh Sidhu, widely known as the ‘Broom Warrior’, for sparking a grassroots sanitation movement. He proudly acknowledged the government’s decision to formally recognize these inspiring community efforts with a prestigious national award. “For awakening a new awareness, our government honored him with the Padma award this year,“ noted Modi.

Attributing this paradigm shift to twelve years of dedicated policy execution, the Prime Minister recalled the foundational pledge to eradicate medical deprivation and ensure affordable, high-quality care for all citizens. “The success of the country in the last twelve years is the direct result of this very resolution,“ affirmed Modi.

Cataloging the aggressive nationwide expansion of medical infrastructure, the Prime Minister highlighted the approval of 15 new AIIMS post-2014, the establishment of hundreds of medical colleges, and the rapid proliferation of specialty hospitals. He proudly referenced his 2022 inauguration of the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital at Chandigarh, which now expertly serves thousands of patients. “In recent years, India has rapidly and massively expanded its healthcare infrastructure,“ noted Modi.

Highlighting the revolutionary integration of digital technology into public health, the Prime Minister praised the e-Sanjeevani mission for democratizing access to expert medical consultations. He shared that remote populations can now easily connect with top-tier specialists without undertaking arduous physical journeys. “Today, more than 48 crore telemedicine consultations have successfully taken place across the country,“ noted Modi.

Quantifying the life-saving impact of these sweeping medical reforms, the Prime Minister revealed that over 90 percent of childbirths now occur in highly secure institutional settings. He shared staggering statistics reflecting a massive 86 percent drop in maternal mortality alongside a steep decline in infant deaths nationwide. “Due to this massive expansion of health services, there has been a huge drop in the infant mortality rate as well,“ affirmed Modi.

Balancing therapeutic advancements with proactive wellness strategies, the Prime Minister emphasized the administration’s dual focus on preventive healthcare. He credited holistic initiatives like the Poshan Abhiyan, Mission Indradhanush, Yoga promotion, HPV vaccination campaigns, and U – WIN platform for actively shielding massive populations from potential health crises. “Due to many such critical efforts, the lives of crores of people are continuously being secured,“ remarked Modi.

Outlining the aggressive national crusade against tuberculosis, the Prime Minister detailed the community-driven TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’s fierce focus on timely screening and treatment. Citing a recent WHO report, he celebrated a 21 percent reduction in infections over the past decade and robust treatment coverage exceeding 90 percent. “Through active public participation, every single individual is being made highly aware,“ asserted Modi.

Addressing the historic bottlenecks in medical education, the Prime Minister recounted the severe shortage of academic seats that previously shattered the aspirations of young students. He announced that the number of medical colleges has nearly doubled, with record increases in postgraduate slots and the recent, highly anticipated approval of an MBBS college at the local institute. “This immense expansion will give talented youth the chance to study in top institutes and provide the country with the best doctors,“ observed Modi.

Praising the city’s unique concentration of educational, engineering, and medical research institutions, the Prime Minister forecasted its rapid rise as a premier hub for startups and technological innovation. To accelerate this academic journey, he celebrated the inauguration of the Kurukshetra Boys Hostel at Punjab Engineering College and the foundation laying for new research scholar accommodations. “It is our endeavor that our youth get the best possible labs and better faculty for advanced research,“ asserted Modi.

Linking rigorous academic environments directly to technological breakthroughs, the Prime Minister stressed the absolute necessity of a robust research ecosystem to propel advancements in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, and deep-tech. He expressed unwavering faith in local educators and students to spearhead this critical national objective. “Only when the research environment is truly strong will innovation rapidly accelerate,“ affirmed Modi.

Defining robust infrastructure as the ultimate blueprint for economic prosperity, the Prime Minister championed the government’s novel holistic developmental approach. He inaugurated a six-lane greenfield highway from IT City to Kurali to alleviate airport road congestion and laid the foundation for the ‘PR Seven Spur’, promising much smoother transit for regional commuters. “With all such strategic development works, industry and business will gain incredible new momentum,“ noted Modi.

Expanding on the theme of regional connectivity, the Prime Minister announced the simultaneous launch of railway projects in Jalandhar and the historic rollout of the nation’s first clean-fuel hydrogen train connecting Jind to Sonipat. He congratulated the public on this monumental national leap in sustainable, green transportation. “This train running entirely on clean fuel marks a truly momentous beginning for the nation,“ remarked Modi.