Dehradun— Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹8,260 crore in Uttarakhand to mark 25 years since the creation of the hill state. He praised the state’s rapid progress across sectors, calling it a symbol of “balanced growth and determination.”
Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations, the Prime Minister highlighted that Uttarakhand’s annual budget, which stood at only ₹4,000 crore during its formation in 2000, has now crossed ₹1 lakh crore. He further announced that infrastructure projects worth over ₹2 lakh crore are currently underway across the state.
Modi said Uttarakhand has the potential to emerge as the “spiritual capital of the world,” citing its many pilgrimage sites such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Haridwar that attract millions of devotees every year. He emphasized that combining spirituality with sustainable development could turn the state into a global example of cultural and ecological harmony.
The projects inaugurated span several critical sectors, including drinking water, irrigation, urban development, energy, technical education, sports, and skill enhancement. Key among them are the Dehradun Water Supply project under the AMRUT scheme, an electrical substation in Pithoragarh, solar power installations on government buildings, and a new AstroTurf Hockey Ground at Haldwani Stadium in Nainital.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other senior officials were present at the ceremony. Dhami thanked the Prime Minister for his “unwavering support” and said the projects would transform Uttarakhand’s infrastructure, improve employment opportunities, and strengthen public services.
