Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a series of Chandigarh development projects worth nearly Rs 4,700 crore, spanning healthcare, education, and road infrastructure. The initiatives were unveiled during a programme held at Punjab Engineering College in the afternoon, drawing a large gathering of students, officials, and residents from across the region.
Major Healthcare Facilities Dedicated at PGIMER
The Prime Minister dedicated the Advanced Mother and Child Care Centre, built at a cost of Rs 505 crore, to the nation. He also inaugurated the Advanced Neurosciences Centre, constructed at an expenditure of Rs 440 crore, at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.
Alongside these dedications, Modi laid the foundation stone for a 259-bed critical care block at PGIMER, sanctioned under the PM-ABHIM scheme. Officials say this addition is expected to significantly strengthen emergency and intensive care capacity at one of North India’s busiest medical institutions, which serves patients from across several neighbouring states.
Together, these healthcare facilities represent one of the largest single-day medical infrastructure rollouts the institute has seen in recent years, reflecting a sustained push to decongest tertiary care hospitals and bring specialised treatment closer to patients in the northern region.
Highway Projects Strengthen Regional Connectivity
Among the Chandigarh development projects unveiled, road infrastructure received considerable attention. The Prime Minister dedicated the Zirakpur-Kurali Greenfield highway to the public, a route expected to ease traffic congestion between Punjab and the union territory.
He also laid foundation stones for two additional road projects: the Zirakpur bypass and the Chandigarh Airport Aerocity Greenfield highway. Both are designed to improve travel efficiency for commuters heading toward the airport and surrounding commercial hubs, while also supporting long-term urban expansion plans in the tricity area.
Officials associated with the projects note that improved road connectivity is expected to reduce commute times for daily travellers moving between Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, easing pressure on existing arterial roads that have struggled to keep pace with rising vehicle numbers.
Education and Public Infrastructure Get a Boost
The event also featured inaugurations connected to education. New hostel blocks at Punjab Engineering College and at the Government College in Sector 46 were opened for students, adding much-needed residential capacity for those enrolled at both institutions.
A new multipurpose auditorium at Punjab University was inaugurated as well, adding to the campus’s academic and cultural facilities and giving students and faculty a modern venue for events, seminars, and functions.
Modi Highlights Regional Impact of Chandigarh’s Growth
Addressing the gathering, Modi said Chandigarh’s development has transformed lives within the city while also benefiting residents of Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. He noted that the expanded neurosciences centre, maternal and child care facility, and critical care block at PGI would improve treatment access for lakhs of patients across the region.
The Prime Minister credited PGIMER’s management, faculty, and young doctors for expanding the institute’s capabilities over the past decade. He described the hospital as having grown into a healthcare backbone for the wider northern belt, adding that continued investment would help it keep pace with rising patient demand.
Criminal Justice Reform and Smart City Push
Modi also referenced recent reforms to India’s criminal justice framework, stating that colonial-era penal laws have been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He pointed out that implementation of the new code began in Chandigarh, calling it a milestone moment for the city and an example for other states to follow.
On urban modernisation, the Prime Minister spoke about the Integrated Command and Control Centre, smart traffic management systems, smart parking, and digital governance tools that have reshaped Chandigarh into a technology-driven city. He said more than Rs 2,500 crore has been invested under this mission alone, underlining the scale of the city’s digital transformation drive.
Conclusion
Describing Chandigarh as a model for planned urban development, Modi said the city continues to remain a priority for the NDA government. With healthcare, education, and connectivity projects now underway, officials expect the Chandigarh development projects to benefit residents across the tricity region and neighbouring states in the coming years.
Follow for more updates: www.instagram.com/imnindia.news/
Leave a comment