UNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid foundation stone of Bulk Drug Park at Una to be setup in Haroli constituency of Una district. He also inaugurated Rs. 128 crore Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in village Saloh, Haroli in Una district.
Earlier, the Prime Minister flagged off the inaugural run of the new Vande Bharat Express from Amb Andaura, Una to New Delhi, from Una Railway station.
The Prime Minister inspected the train coaches of the Vande Bharat Express and took stock of the onboard facilities. The Prime Minister also inspected the control centre of the locomotive engine of Vande Bharat Express. He also inspected Una railway station.
Prime Minister was accompanied by Governor of Himachal Pradesh Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Union Minister of Railways Ashvini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur when he arrived at Una Railway Station.
The introduction of Vande Bharat Express train will help boost tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and faster mode of travel. The travel time from Una to New Delhi will be reduced by two hours.
While addressing Indira Gandhi Stadium at Una, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said IIIT and bulk drug park of the country at Una which will speed up development and create vast employment and busines opportunities in Una and state in general and will benefit the people”, he added.
Prime Minister decision to bring Vande Bharat train from Himachal Pradesh, which the most advanced trains running from here show how the double-engine government is working for the progress of the people.
The Prime Minister remarked that earlier governments at Himachal Pradesh and Centre paid no attention to the needs and aspirations of the citizens of Himachal Pradesh.
“We are not only filling the gulf of development left by the previous governments but also building strong pillars of foundation for the state”, he added.
Prime Minister pointed out that as early as last many countries, and even some states like Gujarat managed to provide to its citizens basic amenities like toilets, rural roads, and modern healthcare.
“In India, However, the earlier government made even these basic cares difficult for the common people. Hilly areas were the worst hit by this. I felt this from close quarters while living here”, he said making an indirect dig at the Congress.
He said rural roads are being constructed at double the speed and broadband connectivity is being taken to Gram Panchayats. “Our government is fulfilling the aspirations of 21st century India.”
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 entire world has witnessed the strength of the medicines manufactured in Himachal Pradesh”, Shri Modi added.
He further pointed out that now that raw materials for medicine manufacturing will be produced in Himachal Pradesh,
India’s dependency on the other nations is going to decrease significantly.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the government is providing free treatment expenses up to five lakh rupees for the poor and needy through Jan Aushadhhi Kendra under the aegis of Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
“Bulk Drug Park will give further strength to the government’s campaign to provide quality and affordable medical care to people”, he pointed out.
“Be it agriculture or industry, it is connectivity that provides impetus to the pace of development”, Shri Modi said.
He gave the example of Nangal Dam-Talwara railway line which was approved 40 years ago and no progress was seen on the ground for 40 years till the current government took it up in right earnest.
Double-engine government is committed to improving railway connectivity across Himachal Pradesh. Today, when the country is connected with Made in India Vande Bharat trains.
The Prime Minister underlined the new working style of delivering on promises and delivering before time.
He said “unlike earlier times when Himachal was valued less on its strength and more on the basis of the number of its Parliamentary seats, long pending demand for educational institutes in the state is being tackled with urgency.
Himachal had to wait for the Double Engine government to get IIT, IIIT, IIM, and AIIMS. Education sector-related initiatives in Himachal Pradesh will immensely benefit the students".
Students will get more relief from the permanent building of IIIT in Una, he said. The Prime Minister who had laid the foundation stone of the IIIT building is today dedicating the building to further underline the changing work culture.
Pointing out the need for skill and innovation institutions across the country, the Prime Minister said that it is our biggest priority today to hone the skills and potential of the youth.
He also noted the contribution of the youth of Himachal by serving in the army and creating new dimensions in the security of the country.
“Now different types of skills will help them to take them to higher positions in the army as well”, he added.
The Prime Minister was presented with the Himachali Cap, Shawl, ‘Dev Rath’ and Chunari of Mata Chintpurni by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on behalf of the people of the State.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that Rs 1923 crore Bulk Drug Park mega project would be setup in an area of 1405 acres in the villages of Haroli assembly constituency of Una district.
He said that out of this, about Rs 1100 crore grant would be provided by the Centre and the remaining amount would be borne by the State Government.
He said that this Park would generate potential investment of Rs 50,000 crores and thousands of employment opportunities for the youth of the State.
With the establishment of this Park related subsidiary enterprises, economic activities would increase and the country's dependency of China for supply of API will be reduced to a great extent and Himachal would be able to play a strong role in India's self-reliant campaign, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh has been immensely benefitted due to the benevolence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who always considers Himachal Pradesh his second home.
He said that the Vande Bharat Express Train was indeed a dream come true for the people of the State, which would go a long way in providing comfortable and fast mode of transportation to the people of the region.
Chief Minister said that despite being a small State, Himachal Pradesh has shown a way for several bigger States of the country in attracting investment to the State.
He said that the former Prime Minister late Atal Bahari Vajpayee provided Special Industrial Package for the State, which attracted huge investment in the State, particularly in the Pharma sector.
He said that the State also provided several incentives to the potential entrepreneurs and the State's ranking in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ has improved from 16th Rank to 7th Rank in the country.
He said that now the Bulk Drug Park sanctioned by the Prime Minister for the State would prove a game changer for the State in general and people of the region in particular.
Jai Ram Thakur also urged the people of the State to provide their wholehearted support to the BJP Governments at the Centre and the State, so that this pace of development goes uninterrupted for many more years to come.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur said 4th Vande Bharat Express Train of the nation and 1st Vande Bharat Express Train for the Stat was possible due to the special bonding of the Prime Minister shares with the State and its people.
He said the Congress Government snatched the interests of the State, whereas the Prime Minister not only restored the special category status for the State, but also provided several developmental projects for the State.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Member of Parliament and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar, Chairman State Finance Commission Satpal Singh Satti, Vice Chairman State SIDC Ram Kumar, MLA Gagret Rajesh Thakur, MLA Chintpurni Balbir Singh shared the dais with the Prime Minister, whereas Ministers, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporation, MLAs and other leaders were also present on the occasion.
