Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab on Friday will see the launch of development projects worth more than Rs 24,800 crore ranging from highways, railways, healthcare and education. The itinerary includes flagging off India’s first hydrogen-powered train, inauguration of completed projects and laying the foundation stone of new infrastructure in the three sectors. Here is a look at the key projects that PM Modi will launch during his visit:
Haryana: Hydrogen train, expressway and more
PM Modi will begin his tour from Jind in Haryana, where he will flag off India’s first hydrogen-powered train between Jind and Sonipat at around 11 am. Developed using indigenous technology, the train is powered by hydrogen fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity, and produce only water vapor as a by-product.He will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate development projects worth about Rs 14,700 crore at the Eklavya Stadium before addressing a public meeting.A major portion of the investment is for national highway projects worth more than Rs 12,470 crore. These include the inauguration of the 157.92 km long Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (Package 1 to 5), built at a cost of approximately Rs 9,680 crore. The expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Katra from about 14 hours to about six hours, while the Delhi-Amritsar journey will reduce from about eight hours to four hours.He is also set to dedicate the Ambala-Kala Amb Highway and the Jind-Gohana Greenfield Highway while laying the foundation stone of the Hansi-Barwala Brownfield Highway Project.Read this also India’s first hydrogen train set to launch on July 17: Routes, features, inside look and FAQsOther projects include inauguration of elevated railway track in Kurukshetra, inauguration of Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government Medical College, Koriyawas in Bhiwani, Maharishi Chyawan Medical College and Rao Tula Ram Hospital in Narnaul and laying of foundation stone of Sikh Museum in Kurukshetra.
Chandigarh: Healthcare and education infra in focus
After Haryana, PM Modi will go to Chandigarh, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 4,700 crore.At PGIMER, he will inaugurate the Advanced Maternal and Child Center and Advanced Neuroscience Center besides laying the foundation stone of a 150-bed Critical Care Block under the Prime Minister Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).The visit also includes education infrastructure projects such as the inauguration of Kurukshetra Boys Hostel and Mess at Punjab Engineering College, laying the foundation stone of a hostel block at Government College, Sector 46 and a Research Scholars Hostel at Punjab Engineering College.On the roads front, Modi will inaugurate a six-lane greenfield highway connecting IT City and Kurali in Mohali district and lay the foundation stone of PR-7 spur of the Ambala-Chandigarh greenfield highway (NH-205A).Read this also India’s first hydrogen-powered train to be flagged off, 10 facts and pictures you should not miss
Punjab: Railway stations, new rail links and highway projects
PM Modi’s last stop will be Jalandhar, where he will launch rail and road infrastructure projects worth over Rs 5,470 crore.He will inaugurate 75 redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, including Jalandhar Cantt. Developed at a cost of approximately Rs 1,570 crore, the stations have been upgraded with modern passenger amenities incorporating local culture, heritage and architecture.He will also inaugurate the Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli rail line built at a cost of about Rs 830 crore and flag off the Kartoli-Ambala and Amritsar (Chheharta)-Varanasi train services.Road projects include the inauguration of Package-6 of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and laying of the foundation stone of the Southern Ludhiana Bypass, a six-lane greenfield project aimed at improving connectivity and reducing travel time between Ludhiana and Bathinda.