Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted Chandigarh’s role as a model of planned urban development while inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 4,700 crore in the UT.Reiterating the Centre’s commitment to Chandigarh’s development, he described the city as a benchmark for planned urbanisation and ease of living.The projects span healthcare, education and road infrastructure, including the expansion of medical facilities at PGIMER, new academic infrastructure at Punjab Engineering College (PEC), a hostel at Govt College, Sector 46, and major road connectivity works.Addressing a public gathering, Modi said Chandigarh has emerged as a benchmark for planned urbanisation, while also evolving into a leading healthcare and education hub for northern India.“It is recognised for its advanced medical facilities and, above all, the blessings of Maa Chandi,” the Prime Minister said.“The development of Chandigarh has always been a priority for the current govt,” Modi added, asserting that the Centre has consistently invested in strengthening the city’s infrastructure and public services.Referring to the overhaul of India’s criminal justice system, Modi said Chandigarh played a key role in its implementation. “The implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita began from Chandigarh,” he said.Highlighting the Centre’s investment in modernising the city, the Prime Minister said initiatives such as the Integrated Command and Control Centre, Smart Traffic Management System and digital governance projects have transformed Chandigarh into a technology-driven city.“More than Rs 2,500 crore has been spent on the mission to make the city high-tech,” Modi said.The Prime Minister underscored Chandigarh’s importance as a gateway connecting Punjab and Haryana. He said the city’s significance, particularly in healthcare, extends far beyond its geographical boundaries.“Chandigarh effectively connects both Haryana and Punjab,” he said, adding that patients from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir also depend on the city for advanced medical treatment.“For medical services, Chandigarh is a mega hub in this entire region,” the Prime Minister said.Projecting Chandigarh as an emerging centre for innovation and research, Modi cited the city’s concentration of premier educational, engineering and medical institutions. He inaugurated the Kurukshetra Boys’ Hostel at Punjab Engineering College, dedicated a newly-constructed hostel at Govt College, Sector 46, and laid the foundation stone for accommodation for research scholars.“It is our endeavour that our youth get the best possible labs and better faculty for advanced research,” he said.Stressing the need to build a robust research ecosystem, Modi said sustained investment in higher education would accelerate advances in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other deep technologies.“Only when the research environment is truly strong will innovation rapidly accelerate,” he said, expressing confidence that Chandigarh would play an increasingly important role in India’s technology-driven growth.BOX 1: PM hails ‘Broom Warrior’Retired IPS officer and Padma Shri awardee Inderjit Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Chandigarh’s “Broom Warrior”, received a special mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address, with the PM crediting him for transforming cleanliness into a citizens’ movement.Interrupting his speech to acknowledge Sidhu’s contribution, Modi said the former police officer had shown how one individual’s commitment could inspire an entire community to take ownership of public spaces.“Today, I especially want to mention Inderjit Singh Sidhu ji of Chandigarh. Popularly known as the ‘Broom Warrior’, he awakened a new consciousness towards cleanliness through public participation,” the Prime Minister said.Referring to the Padma Shri conferred on Sidhu earlier this year, Modi said the honour reflected the Centre’s recognition of citizens who bring about extraordinary social change.“For creating a new awareness, our govt honoured him with the Padma award this year,” Modi said, drawing loud applause from the audience.Sidhu, an 88-year-old retired IPS officer, has become synonymous with Chandigarh’s cleanliness movement over the years.Armed with a broom, he has inspired residents, schoolchildren, RWAs and social organisations to keep the city clean. Every morning at 6am, he sweeps streets and collects garbage across the city using a handcart. He has carried out this work with remarkable dedication for nearly three decades.BOX 2: Road projects to ease Tricity trafficInaugurating the six-lane greenfield highway connecting IT City with Kurali and laying the foundation stone of the PR-7 Spur of the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway, the Prime Minister said modern infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth.He said the projects would improve connectivity, reduce travel time and boost economic activity in the region.The newly inaugurated six-lane IT City-Kurali Greenfield Highway is expected to decongest the busy airport road while providing smoother connectivity for commuters travelling between Chandigarh, Mohali and Kharar, he said.The PR-7 Spur will connect the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway with the regional road network, strengthening connectivity across the Tricity area.“Infrastructure development is the roadmap of a nation’s economic progress. For the first time, infrastructure in India is being developed with a holistic approach,” the Prime Minister said.BOX 3: MP Tewari shares stage with PMPunjab Governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, Union health minister J P Nadda, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari shared the stage with the Prime Minister.Tewari was seen having an animated conversation with Modi before the latter addressed the gathering.Although he declined to elaborate on the interaction, Tewari remarked: “I have always kept anything related to the development of the city above party politics.”
