Jai Ram seeks greater funding for infra projects
SHIMLA: Stressing on the need of greater funding to create infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh to improve connectivity, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant approval and provide financial assistance to build Green Field Airport, Mandi, and for expansion of Kangra Airport, Gaggal.
He was attending a virtual meeting of the Niti Aayog governing council which was presided over by the PM. Thakur said that being a hill state, greater funds and resources were required to create infrastructure in Himachal. He said that the state government is laying stress on making Himachal a tourist hub of India. “Biggest difficulty in doing so is lack of better air and rail connectivity,” he said.
He added the Green Field Airport and Gaggal Airport will give boost to tourism, besides being important from strategic point of view.He thanked the PM for taking personal interest in the Atal Tunnel project.
“The tunnel, opened in October last year, has brought a sea of changes in the lives of people of Lahaul and Pangi Valley and given a fillip to the tourism in the remote area,” said Thakur.
He said snow festival is being organised in Keylong for the last one month and people from across country are becoming witness to it which would have been impossible without the tunnel.
Seeks approval for bulk drug park
“Himachal has made a bid for bulk drug park. In addition to it, Himachal also bid for medical devices manufacturing park and electronic manufacturing hub,” the CM said. Thakur urged the PM to approve these projects to transform the economy of Himachal.
He said that despite being a small state, Himachal has emerged as a model state in several sectors.