Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 July 2026 inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹4,700 crore in Chandigarh, spanning healthcare, education, and road infrastructure. The projects include advanced medical facilities at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), new hostels at educational institutions, and a six-lane Greenfield Highway connecting IT City to Kurali. Describing Chandigarh as a model of development for India, the Prime Minister said the city’s growth benefits not just its residents but also neighbouring states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Healthcare Expansion at PGIMER
The major share of the announced projects went to expanding tertiary healthcare at PGIMER Chandigarh, one of India’s premier medical institutions. Established in 1962 and declared an Institute of National Importance under the PGIMER Act of 1966, PGIMER functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and serves as a critical healthcare hub for northern India.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Advanced Mother and Child Centre, a 300-bed facility designed to provide specialised tertiary care for high-risk pregnancies, critically ill newborns, and children requiring advanced medical treatment. The centre is expected to significantly improve maternal and paediatric healthcare outcomes across the region.
He also inaugurated the Advanced Neurosciences Centre, which integrates neurology, neurosurgery, neuro-critical care, and advanced diagnostics under one roof. The facility will offer world-class treatment for complex neurological disorders while strengthening medical research and specialised training in neurosciences.
In addition, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a 150-bed Critical Care Block under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). PM-ABHIM is a central sector scheme launched in 2021 to strengthen India’s health infrastructure, particularly emergency preparedness, intensive care services, and disaster response capabilities. The new block will enhance PGIMER’s ability to handle critical cases and public health emergencies.
Education Infrastructure Boost
In the education sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects aimed at improving residential and academic infrastructure in Chandigarh’s institutions.
At Punjab Engineering College (PEC), which was founded in 1921 in Lahore and relocated to Chandigarh in 1953, the PM inaugurated the Kurukshetra Boys Hostel and Mess. PEC, a deemed university under the administration of the Chandigarh Union Territory, is one of India’s oldest engineering institutions. A foundation stone was also laid for a Research Scholars’ Hostel at PEC to support advanced research across engineering, technology, and applied sciences.
At Government College, Sector 46, the Prime Minister inaugurated a new Hostel Block that will strengthen residential facilities for students. These education projects are aimed at creating a better environment for higher learning and encouraging research-driven innovation in the city, which the PM described as a growing hub for startups and technology.
Regional Connectivity Through New Highways
The road infrastructure component of the development package focused on improving connectivity in the Tricity region comprising Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. These projects form part of the larger 244-km Tricity Ring Road, planned at an estimated cost of ₹12,000 crore, which aims to decongest the region and provide seamless inter-state movement.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the IT City-Kurali six-lane Greenfield Highway (NH-205A), a 31.23-km access-controlled corridor built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). NHAI was established in 1988 under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988, and is responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways. The corridor, constructed at a cost of ₹1,936 crore, allows vehicles to travel at speeds up to 100 kmph and is expected to reduce travel time between Mohali, Kharar, and Kurali by nearly 45 minutes. By diverting long-distance traffic away from the congested Airport Road in Mohali, the highway will ease congestion, reduce fuel consumption, and improve logistics movement across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The PM also laid the foundation stone for the PR-7 Spur of the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway, a 10.3-km Greenfield corridor valued at ₹1,464 crore. This spur will allow long-distance traffic to bypass the congested urban stretches of Zirakpur and provide a direct link between the Zirakpur Bypass and Aerocity on the outskirts of Chandigarh.
Chandigarh as a Model of Development
During his address at Punjab Engineering College, the Prime Minister described Chandigarh not just as a city but as a benchmark for planned urban development. Chandigarh, designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, was built after Independence as India’s first planned city. It serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana and is itself a Union Territory administered directly by the central government through a Lieutenant Governor.
Modi highlighted that over ₹2,500 crore has been spent under the Smart Cities Mission to transform Chandigarh into a high-tech urban centre. Projects such as the Integrated Command and Control Centre, smart traffic management, smart parking, and digital governance initiatives have been implemented to improve ease of living.
The Prime Minister also noted that Chandigarh was the first territory to implement the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code a year and a half ago. He described this as a major reform that shifted the justice system from a punishment-based framework to a justice-oriented one.
Modi further underscored the government’s broader achievements in healthcare, noting that nearly 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are providing primary healthcare services across the country, over 48 crore telemedicine consultations have been conducted through the e-Sanjeevani platform, and more than 90% of childbirths now take place in institutional settings. He credited these developments to the National Health Policy 2017 and the government’s sustained focus on expanding medical infrastructure, including the approval of 15 new AIIMS since 2014.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth ₹4,700 crore in Chandigarh on 17 July 2026.
- A 300-bed Advanced Mother and Child Centre and an Advanced Neurosciences Centre were inaugurated at PGIMER Chandigarh, along with the foundation stone for a 150-bed Critical Care Block under PM-ABHIM.
- PGIMER was established in 1962 and declared an Institute of National Importance under the PGIMER Act of 1966.
- The IT City-Kurali six-lane Greenfield Highway (NH-205A), spanning 31.23 km and built at a cost of ₹1,936 crore, was inaugurated to decongest the Tricity region.
- The foundation stone was laid for the PR-7 Spur of the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway, a 10.3-km corridor valued at ₹1,464 crore.
- Chandigarh serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana and is itself a Union Territory, designed by architect Le Corbusier.
