PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Bilaspur, lays foundation stone for several projects in Himachal Pradesh

New Delhi, Oct 05: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated AIIMS Bilaspur at around 11.30 am in the presence of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, Union Home Minister Anurag Thakur and BJP president JP Nadda.

Constructed at a cost of more than Rs 1470 crore, AIIMS Bilaspur is a state-of-the-art hospital with 18 speciality & 17 super speciality departments, 18 modular operation theaters, 750 beds with 64 ICU beds.

It is spread over 247 acres, and equipped with 24 hours emergency and dialysis facilities, modern diagnostic machines like ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI etc, Amrit Pharmacy & Jan Aushadhi Kendra and also a 30-bedded AYUSH block.

The hospital has also set up the Centre for Digital Health to provide health services in the tribal and inaccessible tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh. Also, specialist health services will be provided by the hospital through health camps in the inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan regions like Kaza, Saluni, and Keylong. The hospital will admit 100 students for MBBS Course and 60 students for nursing courses every year.

During his visit to Himachal Pradesh, PM Modi inaugurated and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 3,650 crore, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

PM lays foundation stone and dedicates to the nation multiple projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of around 31 km long project for four laning of the National Highway from Pinjore to Nalagarh on NH-105, worth over Rs. 1690 crore today. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, AIIMS, Bilaspur. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Medical Device Park at Nalagarh, which will be built at a cost of about Rs 350 crores. The Prime Minister further inaugurated the Government Hydro Engineering College at Bandla.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister greeted everyone on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashmi. He said this auspicious festival will give new energy to everyone to walk on the path of the pledged 'Panch Pran' while overcoming every obstacle. He said that good fortune of getting the opportunity to be in Himachal for Vijaya Dashmi augurs well for every future victory, a statement from the PMO said.

The Prime Minister remarked that Bilaspur has received a double gift of health and education. He expressed gratitude to have got the opportunity to participate in the Kullu Dussehra and said that he will pray to Bhagwan Raghunath Ji for the welfare of the nation. The Prime Minister also reminisced about old times when he and his associates used to work and live in the area. He said, "I am fortunate to have been a part of Himachal Pradesh's development journey".

Remarking on the developments that have happened over the past years in Himachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister said that it is the vote of the people that are solely responsible for all the developments. He gave the credit to people's confidence in the state and the centre that has propelled all the development work.

He said that for a very long time the thinking was that facilities like education, roads, industries, hospitals are meant for big cities only. As far as hilly areas were concerned, even the basic facilities reached there last. This, the Prime Minister said, created a huge imbalance in the development of the country. He continued, that people of Himachal Pradesh were forced to go to Chandigarh or Delhi for small issues. However, in the last 8 years, the double-engine government changed all that. The Prime Minister said that today Himachal Pradesh is equipped with Central universities like IIT, IIM and IIIT. Modi further added that AIIMS, Bilaspur being the apex of medical education in India will add to the glory of Bilaspur. "In the last eight years, Himachal Pradesh has scaled new heights of development", the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister observed that it is a moment of pride for the people of Himachal Pradesh as it is one of the three states that have been selected for the Bulk Drugs Park. Himachal Pradesh is also one of the four states that have been selected for Medical Devices Park and the Nalagarh Medical Device Park is part of this. "This is the land of the brave and I am indebted to this land", the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting the medical tourism aspect, the Prime Minister said that Himachal Pradesh has endless opportunities. The Prime Minister said that the air, the environment and the herb of the state can be a source of a plethora of benefits for the state.

Highlighting the efforts of the government to ensure Ease of Living for the poor and middle class, the Prime Minister remarked that efforts are being made to make hospitals available at remote locations and minimize the expenses of medical bills. That is why we are working on a seamless connectivity from AIIMS to critical care in district hospitals and wellness centers in the villages. Ayushman Bharat scheme is providing most of the families in the state free treatment upto 5 lakh rupees. More than 3 crore patients all over the country and 1.5 lakh beneficiaries have come from Himachal. Government has spent more than 45,000 crore all over the country, saving about 90,000 crore rupees of the patients.

Pointing out the latest developments in Digital India, the Prime Minister said that unprecedented work has also been done in Himachal regarding digital connectivity. "In the last 8 years, Made in India mobile phones have also become cheap and have also brought the network to the villages", he added. Himachal Pradesh is also moving very fast in digital transactions due to better 4G connectivity. "If anyone is benefiting the most from Digital India, then it is you, the people of Himachal", he said. The Prime Minister informed that due to this paying bills, bank-related work, admissions, applications etc take only minimal time.

Throwing light on 5G developments in the country, the Prime Minister said, "Now for the first time in the country, Made in India 5G services have also started, and the benefits will be made available to Himachal very soon." He further informed that after the change of drone rules in India, their use for transportation is going to increase a lot while the education, health, agriculture and tourism sectors will also reap great benefits from this. He praised Himachal Pradesh for being the first state to come out with a drone policy. "We are striving for a type of development that increases the convenience of every citizen, and every citizen is connected with prosperity. This will prove the resolve of a developed India, and a developed Himachal Pradesh", the Prime Minister concluded.