Jai Ram Thakur Advocates Special Grants for Himachal Pradesh

In the 16th meeting of the Finance Commission, Jai Ram Thakur advocated for granting special assistance to Himachal Pradesh. The meeting, held in Shimla at Peterhof, saw Thakur highlight the state’s geographic and economic conditions, emphasizing the need for special support to accelerate Himachal’s development. He urged the central government to allocate special funds for enhancing road connectivity, asserting its critical role in the state’s progress.

Thakur underscored tourism as the backbone of Himachal’s economy, stressing that air connectivity is pivotal for its growth. He urged for substantial funding: 1,000 crores for the construction of the Greenfield airport in Mandi and 400 crores for the expansion of the Kangra airport. Additionally, he appealed for further financial allocations for both airports to bolster air connectivity, facilitating tourism growth.

The meeting concluded with Thakur’s firm stance on the necessity of central support to bolster Himachal Pradesh’s infrastructure and economic prospects through enhanced connectivity initiatives.