DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that residents of Panchkula will soon enjoy the convenience of the Metro rail. The Metro project is underway to serve the Tricity area, encompassing Panchkula, Chandigarh, and Mohali. Panchkula is making continuous progress and is also benefiting from the airport infrastructure in Chandigarh.

The Chief Minister was virtually addressing the people of the state after dedicating projects worth more than Rs 4223 crore to the people of the state during a state level function organized in Panchkula today.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also extended his congratulations to all the people of the state on Mahashivratri and International Women's Day. He mentioned that such programs, inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of projects for all the districts simultaneously through virtual means, have already been conducted eight times.

In these programs, a total of 1612 projects have been dedicated to the public with a cumulative cost of Rs. 17,203 crore. This marks today's ninth program.

He mentioned that over the past decade, there has been an unprecedented surge in the laying of foundation stones and inauguration of new infrastructure projects both nationally and within the state. Notably, our government has taken the initiative to inaugurate projects for which foundation stones were laid during previous regimes.

Highlighting India's growth trajectory, he said that the country's growth rate reached 6.7 percent, a significant increase from the 5.5 percent during previous governments. Similarly, Haryana's growth rate stood at 8 percent, indicative of the state's remarkable progress in terms of prosperity, development, and economy. He expressed confidence that by 2047, as India evolves into a developed nation, Haryana will also transition into the league of developed states.

Referring to a report by NITI Aayog in 2023, he pointed out that Haryana has seen around 14 lakh individuals rise above the poverty line, reflecting the state's concerted efforts towards socio-economic upliftment.

He said that the fiscal parameters of Haryana are up to 26-27 percent of the GSDP, whereas in the recent budget presented by Punjab, the fiscal parameters are shown to be up to 47-48 percent. This comparison underscores the perception among the people of Punjab that Haryana leads in several aspects of development.

He mentioned that we continue to engage in discussions with the people of Punjab regarding farmers' issues. Recently, we had a conversation with some individuals, during which we advised them to encourage the Punjab government to replicate the agricultural initiatives implemented by Haryana.

He highlighted the establishment of colleges within a 20-kilometer radius to ensure convenient access to education for girls. We also announced the establishment of a medical college in each district. Currently, medical colleges have been constructed in the majority of districts, and the land acquisition process is finalized for the remaining ones, where medical colleges will soon be developed.

In 2014, the state had 750 MBBS seats, which have now increased to 2000. With the construction of a medical college in each district, the number of MBBS seats will rise to 3500. Apart from this, plans have also been made to expand civil hospitals and build 200 bedded hospitals in every district.

Under the One Block-One Product initiative, around 40 clusters have been formed to promote local products, generating employment opportunities. Notably, Asia's largest Horticulture Market is under construction in Ganaur. He also noted the significant progress in rural electrification, with 24-hour electricity supply now available in 5900 villages.

Mr. Manohar Lal highlighted that the development in Haryana has attracted investors from both India and abroad. A KMP-KGP lifeline has been built and the Orbiter Rail Corridor is also being built. Moreover, every district in Haryana is now connected to the National Highway, a significant achievement.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi and Union Minister Sh Nitin Gadkari for their efforts in enhancing the road network, which has seen an investment of about Rs 60,000 crore.
(editor@dailyworld.in)