Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched multiple development projects in Chandigarh with significant focus on healthcare infrastructure, education facilities, and transportation connectivity. The projects represent continued investment in Chandigarh's development, with over ₹2,500 crore already spent on mission initiatives including Integrated Command and Control Centre, smart traffic management, smart parking, and digital governance systems.
Healthcare expansion forms a major component of the development agenda. The Post Graduate Institute (PGI) Chandigarh is being expanded with new Advanced Neurosciences Centre, Advanced Mother and Child Centre, and Critical Care Hospital Block that will serve lakhs of people across the northern region including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. PGI Chandigarh has also received approval for a new MBBS college with admissions beginning soon. The Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, inaugurated in 2022, is already serving thousands of patients in the region.
The speech highlighted national healthcare achievements under the current government, including approval of 15 new AIIMS since 2014, establishment of hundreds of new medical colleges, and near-doubling of medical college numbers overall. MBBS and postgraduate seats have increased to record levels. The Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has created nearly 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs providing primary treatment and 12 different health package services, with millions of screenings conducted for diseases like blood pressure and diabetes. The e-Sanjeevani Mission has facilitated over 480 million telemedicine consultations, improving access to healthcare in remote areas.
Infrastructure development includes the inauguration of a six-lane greenfield highway from IT City to Kurali, which aims to reduce pressure on the airport road and ease traffic for residents of Mohali and Kharar. The foundation stone for the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway's PR-7 Spur was also laid, with these projects expected to boost industry and trade while improving ease of living in Chandigarh. Additionally, railway projects were inaugurated in Jalandhar to benefit Punjab and the entire region, and the country's first hydrogen train has begun running from Jind to Sonipat as a clean-fuel transportation initiative.
Education projects launched include the Kurukshetra Boys' Hostel and Mess at Punjab Engineering College, a new hostel for Government College in Sector-46, and the foundation stone for a Research Scholars Hostel. The government emphasized strengthening research environments to accelerate innovation in fields like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and deep-tech, with Chandigarh's educational institutions expected to play a vital role.
The speech also highlighted cleanliness initiatives, noting Chandigarh's consistent performance in Swachh Bharat rankings and recognizing retired IPS officer Inderjit Singh Sidhu as a 'Broom Warrior' who was honored with a Padma award for promoting cleanliness awareness. A special Swachhata Se Swagat cleanliness campaign was conducted alongside the development project launches.