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Central Budget Brings Major Benefits to Himachal Pradesh: Malhotra

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Shimla, July 27, 2024 – Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, in a press conference, detailed the significant benefits Himachal Pradesh will receive from the Union Budget. Emphasizing infrastructure, road, tunnel, agriculture, and youth development, Malhotra highlighted the allocation of INR 10,351.82 crore to the state from central revenues.

Malhotra praised the Union Budget as a roadmap for a developed India and stressed its importance for Himachal Pradesh. He outlined substantial financial provisions for various highway projects in the state, including:
– Pathankot-Mandi: INR 10,067 crore
– Mataur-Shimla: INR 10,512 crore
– Kiratpur-Mandi-Kullu-Manali: INR 13,784 crore
– Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh: INR 1,692 crore
– Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat-Shimla: INR 7,632 crore

Additionally, tunnel projects have been given a significant boost with allocations such as:
– Pathankot-Mandi: 5 tunnels, INR 2,472 crore
– Mataur-Shimla: 3 tunnels, INR 1,747 crore
– Kiratpur-Mandi-Kullu-Manali: 4 tunnels, INR 5,632 crore
– Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat-Shimla: 4 tunnels, INR 1,231 crore

Malhotra also mentioned the initiation of the Shinku La tunnel project, connecting Lahaul in Himachal with Zanskar in Ladakh, with an investment of INR 1,681 crore.

In the railway sector, Himachal Pradesh received INR 2,698 crore for ongoing and new projects, including:
– Chandigarh-Baddi rail line: INR 300 crore
– Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri rail line: INR 1,700 crore
– Nangal Dam-Talwara rail line: INR 500 crore

Four railway stations – Shimla, Palampur, Baijnath Paprola, and Amb-Andaura – will be upgraded to world-class standards.

The state will benefit from long-term interest-free loans of INR 1.5 lakh crore allocated to states for resource allocation.

Malhotra concluded by highlighting the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase IV, aimed at providing all-weather road connectivity to 25,000 rural settlements across the country. He noted the immediate disaster relief of INR 1,782 crore provided to Himachal and additional funds for MGNREGA and housing, affirming the central government’s commitment to the state’s development.

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