Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wearing a traditional pahari cap and speaking in local dialects, declared this the era of Uttarakhand's rise as the state celebrated its 25th foundation day on November 9, 2025. Addressing a gathering at Dehradun's Forest Research Institute, the Prime Minister highlighted the transformative impact of the double-engine government while launching development projects worth over ₹8,140 crores.
Uttarakhand's Transformative Journey
The Prime Minister vividly contrasted Uttarakhand's present with its past, emphasizing the state's remarkable economic transformation. The state budget has skyrocketed from ₹4,000 crore twenty-five years ago to an impressive ₹1 lakh crore today, reflecting substantial financial growth and development investment.
Infrastructure development showed equally impressive numbers. Electricity production has increased fourfold, while the road network has doubled in length. The tourism sector witnessed exponential growth, with daily air tourist arrivals now matching what used to take six months previously. Engineering colleges multiplied over ten times, and medical colleges expanded from one to ten institutions, significantly enhancing educational infrastructure.
Policy Initiatives and Spiritual Capital Vision
PM Modi specifically praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for implementing the Uniform Civil Code and introducing what he termed courageous anti-conversion and anti-riot legislation. The government has also taken strong measures against land encroachment and demographic change attempts, according to the Prime Minister's address.
Modi envisioned Uttarakhand becoming the world's spiritual capital, suggesting that temples, ashrams, and meditation centers could be globally networked. He proposed developing complete wellness packages including yoga, ayurveda, naturopathy, and homestays in every assembly segment.
The Prime Minister emphasized the growing popularity of winter tourism, noting that pilgrim numbers to Adi Kailash surged from under 2,000 to over 30,000 in recent years. The Kedarnath temple attracted over 17 lakh devotees before closing for the season, demonstrating significant religious tourism growth.
Agricultural Development and Future Prospects
Modi released ₹62 crores directly to over 28,000 farmers' bank accounts under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, highlighting the government's agricultural focus. He promoted diversification into blueberry, kiwi, herbal, and medicinal plants as the future of hill district farming.
The Prime Minister celebrated Uttarakhand gaining GI tags for 15 agricultural products, specifically mentioning Bedu fruit and Badri cow ghee. Wherever these GI-tagged products go, they will carry Uttarakhand's identity with them, Modi stated, emphasizing the importance of geographical indication recognition.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister confirmed that projects worth ₹2 lakh crore are currently underway in the state, including the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway project, Delhi-Dehradun highway, and ropeway projects in Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib.
Modi concluded by expressing confidence that Uttarakhand would be fully prepared when India becomes a developed nation in 2047, summarizing his vision in Garhwali to connect with the local audience emotionally and culturally.
