Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that PM Modi’s government allocated 4.5 times more funds to Uttarakhand compared to the UPA era, boosting infrastructure, tourism, and industrial growth. At the Uttarakhand Nivesh Utsav, Shah lauded development achievements and warned Congress against politicizing progress efforts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the ‘Uttarakhand Nivesh Utsav’ at Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district on Saturday, highlighted the significant financial support provided by the Modi-led central government to Uttarakhand over the past decade. Shah stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the state has received 4.5 times more funds than what was allocated during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime from 2004 to 2014.
“In the last 10 years, PM Modi’s government has given Uttarakhand Rs 1.86 lakh crore through tax devolution and grant-in-aid, while the UPA government had allocated just Rs 53,000 crore,” Shah said, drawing a stark comparison between the two administrations.
He further elaborated that apart from the central grants, the Modi government allocated Rs 31,000 crore for road development, Rs 40,000 crore for railway infrastructure, and Rs 100 crore for airport projects in the state. This substantial increase in funding, he noted, was a clear reflection of the Centre’s commitment to Uttarakhand’s growth.
Taking a swipe at the Congress, Shah criticized the party for questioning the central government’s contributions to Uttarakhand. “Ahead of my visit, Congress leaders posted on social media asking what Uttarakhand has received so far. Today, I have shared these financial details to answer their doubts and expose their ignorance,” he remarked.
Calling upon Congress leaders to rise above petty politics, the Home Minister urged them to support developmental efforts for the benefit of the people. “If they continue to obstruct progress, it won’t be long before their dwindling presence in Uttarakhand disappears entirely,” he warned.
Shah also reminded the audience of Congress’s opposition to the creation of Uttarakhand, asserting that it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who realized the vision of a separate hill state. “Atalji created Uttarakhand, and now PM Modi is nurturing it for a brighter future,” he declared.
Referring to PM Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, Shah stressed the importance of developing smaller and eastern states like Uttarakhand. He also underlined the Modi government’s commitment to tourism infrastructure, particularly the ambitious Char Dham all-weather road project, which faced legal hurdles from environmental activists.
“Despite opposition, PM Modi stood firm and ensured top legal representation to defend the project in court,” Shah said, highlighting other proposed ropeway projects at Hemkunt Sahib, Sonprayag, and major pilgrimage sites that are expected to attract massive investments.
The Home Minister emphasized how the Modi government’s policies have lifted 25 crore people out of poverty and positioned India as the fourth-largest economy globally.
Praising the Uttarakhand government under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Shah said, “Over 81,000 jobs have already been created and another 2.5 lakh jobs are expected through ancillary industries. CM Dhami is promoting Dev Bhoomi with transparency, balanced policies, and sustainable development.”
Shah outlined a four-pronged development strategy for Uttarakhand focusing on Yoga, Ayurveda, natural healing, and organic farming. “This will ensure holistic growth aligned with the cultural and environmental ethos of the state,” he added.
The ‘Uttarakhand Nivesh Utsav’ aimed to showcase the state’s progress post the December 2023 Global Investors Summit, which saw over 1,779 MoUs worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore signed. Of this, investment projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore have already been implemented, significantly boosting the state’s industrial base.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in his address, credited PM Modi’s vision for Uttarakhand’s transformation into an investment hub. “Uttarakhand has become an investment-friendly state through policy reforms, a single-window clearance system, and sector-specific policies,” Dhami stated.
He added that the state government introduced 30 new policies including logistics, MSME, and startup policies. “We’ve received encouraging feedback from investors and have accordingly simplified several regulations,” Dhami said, adding that Rs 200 crore has been earmarked as venture capital for startups.
The event, held at Rudrapur’s Sports Stadium, saw the remote inauguration and foundation stone laying of public welfare schemes worth Rs 1,342 crore by the Home Minister. These included infrastructure, education, and healthcare-related projects aimed at grassroots development.
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Dignitaries, industrialists, and business representatives attended the event, underscoring the growing confidence in Uttarakhand’s governance and development roadmap.
With PM Modi’s leadership, Uttarakhand appears to be well on its way toward achieving new milestones in industrial growth, tourism, and inclusive development.
