Dehradun, 9 Nov: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the main celebration event of Uttarakhand’s State Formation Day at FRI grounds here today and addressed a huge gathering on this occasion. The event marked the state’s Silver Jubilee. In addition, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth Rs 8,260 crores. Addressing the gathering as the main speaker, the PM commended Uttarakhand’s remarkable progress over the past 25 years and also unveiled a roadmap to guide the state’s development journey till 2047, listing winter tourism, eco-tourism and horticulture as areas with great potential. He also urged the people to move forward with renewed determination, assuring full support from the Central Government. He also digitally transferred funds to over 28,000 farmers from the state with a click of a button on this occasion.
Addressing a huge gathering of more than fifty thousand persons at the FRI campus, Modi greeted the people in Garhwali and Kumaoni and extended best wishes on the State Foundation Day. In between his speech also he spoke a few sentences in Garhwali. Modi asserted that 9 November symbolises the culmination of Uttarakhand’s long struggle and sacrifice and it is a day of immense pride for every resident of the state. Paying tribute to the martyrs and participants of the statehood movement, he recalled that, when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government created Uttarakhand 25 years ago, it was envisioned with great hopes and aspirations, many of which are now being realised.
Modi also reminded the people of the state of his emotional bond with Uttarakhand and reminisced about his visits in the past as part of his spiritual journeys. He noted that the courage and hard work of the mountain people had always inspired him during his stay in the state. He added that his experiences in the region have strengthened his belief in Uttarakhand’s potential. He also recalled his visit to Kedarnath as the PM when he declared that the present decade belonged to Uttarakhand. Today, he added, it is evident that the state is indeed witnessing an era of rapid progress and rise.
The PM also recalled the state’s modest beginnings, reminding that Uttarakhand had started with scarce resources, a small budget and limited income sources and as a state that depended largely on central grants. Now, he said, the picture has completely transformed. From an annual state budget of Rs 4,000 crores, the state’s outlay has crossed Rs 1 lakh crores.
Modi said that during the past 25 years, power generation has quadrupled, the road network has doubled, and air connectivity has improved immensely. Earlier it was just 4,000 passengers reaching the state by air in six months and now it is over 4,000 daily. The PM said that the number of engineering colleges has increased from one to more than ten, and medical colleges from one to ten. He said that at the time of the formation of the state, the rate of vaccination coverage was below 25 percent, but now vaccination drives have reached every village.
The PM also shared with the gathering that he had also interacted today with local youth and entrepreneurs, and that he could sense enthusiasm and confidence about Uttarakhand’s future. He also said that the new projects launched by him today would further accelerate development. He mentioned the Song Dam project in Dehradun and Jamrani Dam project in Haldwani. He highlighted that the state government is providing digital currency-based financial assistance to apple and kiwi farmers, ensuring transparency and traceability through modern technology.
Emphasising the vital link between connectivity and development, Modi said projects worth over Rs 2 lakh crore are underway across Uttarakhand. The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail project is progressing steadily, the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway has almost been completed, and ropeway projects from Gaurikund to Kedarnath and from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib have been initiated. These, he said, would inject new energy and speed into the state’s growth story.
Modi stressed that while Uttarakhand has travelled a long way in the past 25 years, it must now prepare a visionary roadmap for the next 25. Quoting the proverb “where there is a will, there is way,” he said no better day than 9 November could be chosen to outline future goals. He envisioned the state as the future spiritual capital of the world, connecting its temples, ashrams and yoga centres to a global network. Every assembly constituency, he suggested, should have a yoga centre, while ‘Vibrant Villages’ should be developed into small tourist hubs. He added that the tourists would be drawn back repeatedly after experiencing the hospitality of homestays and savouring traditional delicacies like chutkani, rot, arsa and jhangora kheer.
He urged that Uttarakhand’s unique festivals such as Harela, Phuldei and Bhitauli be linked with tourism, and that fairs like Nanda Devi, Jauljibi, Bageshwar Uttarayani, Devidhura, Shravani and the Butter Festival be promoted as symbols of living culture. Through a ‘One District, One Festival’ initiative, he said, Uttarakhand could earn global recognition.
Appreciating the state government’s push for winter tourism, Modi said that increased tourist inflow during the colder months would strengthen the local economy. He lauded the organisation of the high-altitude marathon and the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run, noting that tourist numbers there have risen from less than 2,000 three years ago to over 30,000 now. He also noted that the number of devotees at Kedarnath has reached 17 lakhs this year. Eco-tourism and adventure tourism, he said, have immense potential for expansion in Uttarakhand.
Modi also observed that Uttarakhand is also emerging as a preferred film destination, aided by its new film policy, and is becoming popular for destination weddings under the ‘Wed in India’ campaign. To capitalise on this, he said, world-class infrastructure should be developed at select luxury destinations.
The PM also noted that local products from Uttarakhand are gaining prominence under the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign. Fifteen agricultural products, including Bedu fruit and Badri Cow ghee, have earned GI tags, which is a matter of pride for the state. Through the ‘House of Himalayas’ brand, Uttarakhand’s unique products are reaching global markets via digital platforms. The development journey, Modi remarked, had not been without challenges, but the BJP government had overcome them with firm resolve.
Modi also praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for taking bold steps and decisions like implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Anti Riots law and also measures taken to protect and preserve the demography of the state. UCC he said is serving as a model for others. He also commended the government’s firm stance on anti-conversion law in the national interest.
Extending his best wishes to the people of Uttarakhand, expressing confidence that the Silver Jubilee of statehood would mark the beginning of a new phase of pride and progress. As India moves towards celebrating 100 years of Independence, he said, Uttarakhand must decide the heights it seeks to achieve. He said that one should not wait but continue the journey with determination, and added that the Centre would always stand by the state in its progress. He concluded his speech with chants of Vande Mataram and reminded that 150 years have passed since Vande Mataram was composed.
Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, cabinet ministers, Union Minister of State Ajay Tamta, Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, former CMs, MPs and MLAs were among those present on the occasion.
