New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the groundwork for the road and ropeway projects in Uttarakhand's Mana village. He inaugurated several connectivity projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crore in the hill state today.
"Mana village is considered the last village in India. But from now onwards, every village located in the border areas will be considered as the first village of India," PM Modi said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
The initiatives unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttarakhand include two new ropeway projects connecting Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib.
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Speaking about them, he highlighted, "the construction of ropeway projects (Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib) is not just to provide connectivity but it will give a fillip to the economic development in the state."
"Our government is also working towards the use of drones for the delivery of materials in the mountain areas," he mentioned.
PM Modi noted that connectivity is a challenge in mountainous regions. "Our govt is working on bringing connectivity to such areas. Four-lane expressways are being built to connect state from Delhi & UP. Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor will encourage businesses in the state," he added.
PM Mosi Offers Prayers At Kedarnath & Badrinath Dham
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi visited Kedarnath and Badrinath and offers prayers at the revered temples. Donning the traditional Pahadi dress, the Prime Minister performed Rudrabhishek at the inner sanctum and prayed before the Nandi statue.
He also visited the Adi Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal and reviewed the work in progress along with Mandakini Asthapath and Saraswati Asthapath.
The Prime Minister also interacted with 'Shramjeevis' of Kedarnath Dham Project. He was accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Uttarakhand Governor Retd. Gen Gurmit Singh.
Besides this, PM Modi attended 'Saras Mela' in Mana village of Chamoli district during his visit.
Key Projects Launched
The infrastructural development is being done to strengthen connectivity and religious tourism in the state and its adjoining areas.
The ropeway in Kedarnath will be around 9.7 Km long connecting Gaurikund to Kedarnath. It will reduce the travel time between the two places to about 30 mins from 6-7 hours earlier. The Hemkund ropeway will connect Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib. It will be around 12.4 Km long and will reduce the travel time from more than a day to only about 45 minutes. “This ropeway will also connect Ghangaria, which is the gateway to Valley of Flowers National Park," according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Prime Minister’s visit to Kedarnath-Badrinath will prove to be a milestone in the development of Uttarakhand.
Dhami said the connectivity projects being undertaken at these places reflect the prime minister’s commitment to ease access and improve basic infrastructure in places of religious significance.