Prime Minister Modi Unveils ₹8,260-Crore Development Push, Presents Vision for Uttarakhand 2047
DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday outlined a forward-looking roadmap for Uttarakhand, urging the state to accelerate its march toward 2047 with confidence and clarity. He lauded Uttarakhand’s achievements over the past 25 years and assured full central support as the state enters its silver jubilee era.
Addressing the main Statehood Day and Silver Jubilee celebrations at the FRI campus in Dehradun, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects totaling ₹8,260 crore. He greeted the people in Garhwali and Kumaoni, calling 9 November a symbol of the long struggle and sacrifice of the Uttarakhandi people. Paying homage to the martyrs and agitators of the statehood movement, he said the day fills every resident with pride.
Modi recalled that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government created Uttarakhand with hopes and expectations, and today, those aspirations are steadily being realized. Sharing his personal connection with Uttarakhand, he said the resilience of people living in the mountains had always inspired him during his visits. After his pilgrimage to Baba Kedar years ago, he had predicted that the decade ahead would belong to Uttarakhand, and today, that belief is stronger than ever.
The Prime Minister noted that Uttarakhand has seen a remarkable transformation since its formation. With limited resources and a modest ₹4,000-crore budget in its early years, the state faced many challenges. Today, the budget has crossed ₹1 lakh crore. Electricity generation has quadrupled, the length of roads has doubled, and air connectivity has expanded dramatically, rising from 4,000 passengers in six months to the same number in a single day. Engineering colleges have increased more than tenfold, medical colleges have grown from one to ten, and vaccine coverage has reached every village.
Modi said his interactions with youth and entrepreneurs at the event reflected the state’s growing optimism. He added that the projects launched on Sunday would further accelerate Uttarakhand’s development. Highlighting the use of technology, he praised the state government’s initiative to provide grants to apple and kiwi farmers through digital currency, enabling transparent financial tracking.
Emphasizing that Uttarakhand’s economy is closely tied to connectivity, he said projects worth over ₹2 lakh crore are currently underway. These include the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail line, the completed Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, and the ropeways for Gaurikund–Kedarnath and Govindghat–Hemkund Sahib. These initiatives, he said, are giving the state a new momentum.
Calling for a clear roadmap for the next 25 years, Modi urged Uttarakhand to adopt the principle that strong willpower creates the path to progress. He said the state has the potential to emerge as the world’s spiritual capital by building global networks around temples, ashrams, and yoga. He suggested developing yoga centers in every assembly constituency and turning Vibrant Villages into boutique tourist hubs. Traditional cuisine like Chutkani, Rot, Arsa, and Jhangora Kheer, he added, can create memorable tourist experiences. Festivals such as Harela, Fuldei, Bhintoli, Nanda Devi, Jauljivi, Bageshwar Uttarayani, Devidhura, and the Butter Festival should be promoted globally under a “One District, One Festival” approach.
Modi praised the state’s efforts in boosting winter tourism and highlighted the success of events like the High Altitude Marathon and the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run. Tourist footfall at Adi Kailash has increased from fewer than 2,000 visitors three years ago to 30,000 today, while 1.7 million devotees have visited Kedarnath this year. He said eco-tourism and adventure tourism are poised for major expansion.
Calling Uttarakhand a rising film and wedding destination, Modi said the new film policy has made shooting easier and that luxury facilities should be created to promote the “Wed in India” campaign.
The Prime Minister also commended the growth of local products under the “Vocal for Local” initiative. Fifteen agricultural products have received GI tags, including Bedu fruit and Badri ghee. The House of Himalayas brand and digital platforms are helping take these products to global markets.
Modi praised the state government under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for implementing the Uniform Civil Code, and for strong policies on anti-conversion and riot control, calling them examples for other states.
Concluding his address with Vande Mataram, the Prime Minister congratulated the people once again and expressed confidence that Uttarakhand will scale new heights by the time India completes 100 years of independence. He assured that the Government of India will continue to stand firmly with the state in its development journey.
