Chandigarh, July 17/Ekta
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation development projects worth over ₹4,700 crore in Chandigarh, covering healthcare, education and road infrastructure. Addressing a public gathering, he said cleanliness should become a way of life and not remain a one-day activity.
The Prime Minister described Chandigarh as a model of planned urban development and said the government has consistently prioritised the city’s growth. He highlighted investments in smart infrastructure, including an Integrated Command and Control Centre, Smart Traffic Management and digital governance systems, noting that more than ₹2,500 crore has been spent to make the city “high-tech”.
Major announcements
Chandigarh
Total projects
₹4,700 cr+
Healthcare, education & roads
Smart city upgrade
₹2,500 cr+
Integrated command & traffic systems
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
1.75 lakh
Across India
Telemedicine consultations
48 crore+
Through e-Sanjeevani
Healthcare expansion
Among the key projects announced were a Neuroscience Centre, a Mother and Child Centre, and a Critical Care Hospital Block at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Modi said the facilities would improve treatment access for millions of people across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
He also recalled inaugurating the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in 2022 and said India has rapidly expanded its healthcare infrastructure over the last decade through new AIIMS institutions, medical colleges and speciality hospitals.
Swachh Bharat and civic participation
Emphasising the link between public health and sanitation, the Prime Minister said the Swachh Bharat Mission had transformed cleanliness practices across the country through large-scale toilet construction and the elimination of open defecation.
He praised Chandigarh residents for participating in a special ‘Swachhta se Swagat’ drive and commended retired IPS officer Inderjit Singh Sidhu for leading community cleanliness campaigns. Sidhu was recently honoured with a Padma award for his contribution to sanitation awareness.
“Cleanliness is not a one-day activity; it is a way of life,”
the Prime Minister said.
Digital health and medical education
Modi highlighted the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, saying nearly 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are now providing health services across the country. He added that more than 48 crore telemedicine consultations have been conducted through the e-Sanjeevani platform.
On medical education, he said the number of medical colleges has nearly doubled since 2014 and announced that an MBBS college at PGIMER has received approval, which will help increase opportunities for aspiring doctors.
Education and research
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Kurukshetra Boys Hostel at Punjab Engineering College and laid the foundation stone for additional research scholar accommodation. He said Chandigarh has the potential to emerge as a major hub for startups, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and deep-tech innovation.
Road and transport projects
In the infrastructure sector, Modi inaugurated a six-lane greenfield highway from IT City to Kurali aimed at reducing congestion on the airport road. He also laid the foundation stone for the PR-7 Spur project, which is expected to improve regional connectivity.
Referring to developments in neighbouring states, he announced railway projects in Jalandhar and the launch of India’s first hydrogen-powered clean-fuel train between Jind and Sonipat.
Vision for Viksit Bharat
Concluding his address, Modi said India must invest in future-ready technologies, modern transport systems and advanced healthcare infrastructure to build a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). He assured people of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh that the government would continue creating institutions designed to serve future generations.
