Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Uttarakhand, on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 4,200 crore in sectors like rural development, road, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health and disaster management, among others. The projects inaugurated and dedicated to nation by the Prime Minister include 76 rural roads and 25 bridges built in rural areas under PMGSY.
Addressing a public rally, PM Modi said that Uttarakhand will reach new prospects of development and the government is working with that one motive. "I have a belief that this will be Uttarakhand's decade...Uttarakhand will reach new prospects of development & our government is working with that one motive...Foundation stones of several development projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crores were laid today," PM Modi said.
The prime minister said that his government has taken decisions on issues pending for 30 to 40 years, like the women's reservation bill. He also spoke of India's successful Chandrayaan-3 mission saying, it reached that part of the moon where no other country could. The strength of India is being acknowledged internationally and it was evident during the G20 summit held in Delhi, he said.
During his address, PM Modi said that he has personal bond and memory attached to every inch of the land. He accused the previous governments of ignoring the development of border areas and said, "Development of border villages which we consider as our first villages is our priority."
Earlier in the day, PM Modi offered prayers at Jageshwar Dham, and had a 'darshan' of Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh. After that, the Prime Minister reached Gunji village, Pithoragarh district, where he interacted with the local people, and visited an exhibition highlighting local art and products. He also interacted with personnels of Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
At around 12 noon, PM Modi reached Jageshwar, Almora district, where he performed pooja and darshan at Jageshwar Dham. Located at a height of about 6200 feet, the Jageshwar Dham comprises of about 224 stone temples.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Our government is committed to the welfare of each and every individual of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and the state's rapid development. To impart more speed to it, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects in Pithoragarh." "I will also get the good opportunity of interacting with the people of Gunji village. I also look eagerly forward to a darshan of the spiritually significant Parvati Kund and and a puja at Jageshwar Dham during the tour," he said.