Hamirpur, February 18, 2026: Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Hamirpur, Anurag Singh Thakur, stated that the Modi Government remains firmly committed to building world-class infrastructure across India and Himachal Pradesh. He said that the Union Budget 2026–27 has given special emphasis to strengthening infrastructure in the country and in “Devbhoomi” Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur said the Budget reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to highways, railways, strategic connectivity corridors, and logistics networks nationwide. Continuous focus on capital expenditure and connectivity expansion, particularly in hill and border states like Himachal Pradesh, is strengthening economic growth and generating employment opportunities.
He highlighted that over the past 12 years, Himachal Pradesh has received substantial financial and infrastructure support from the Centre through tax devolution, grants-in-aid, and dedicated capital investment assistance. For the financial year 2026–27, Himachal Pradesh has been allocated ₹13,949 crore under tax devolution. Over the last decade, the state has received approximately ₹76,799 crore through tax devolution and more than ₹1.41 lakh crore in grants, reflecting the Centre’s sustained commitment to the state’s development.
Special Assistance for Capital Investment
Thakur noted that the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme, which provides 50-year interest-free loans for infrastructure creation, has significantly strengthened the state’s development capacity. Under this initiative, Himachal Pradesh has received over ₹8,309 crore from 2020–21 to January 2026, enabling large-scale investments in roads, public infrastructure, and development projects.
Railway Expansion and Modernization
A major milestone in the state’s infrastructure push, he said, is the ambitious Bhanupli-Bilaspur-Manali-Leh Railway Line, a transformative national strategic project aimed at enhancing connectivity in the Himalayan region. Alongside this, nearly 255 km of four new railway track projects worth over ₹13,000 crore are currently underway in Himachal Pradesh, marking a historic expansion of railway infrastructure.
Railway modernization is also visible under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at key stations including Amb Andaura, Baijnath Paprola, Palampur Himachal, and Shimla. Additionally, the launch of Vande Bharat Express service between Amb Andaura and New Delhi has significantly improved high-speed connectivity for passengers.
National Highway Expansion
Thakur emphasized the rapid expansion of the national highway network in the state. Over 2,607 km of national highways have already been developed in Himachal Pradesh. Under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, projects worth approximately ₹9,964 crore covering 167 km of strategic highway corridors are in progress.
He also highlighted the recently inaugurated Kiratpur–Nerchowk stretch of NH-21, built at an investment of around ₹3,400 crore, which has substantially reduced travel time and improved logistics efficiency for residents and industries.
Thakur further cited the engineering achievement of the Atal Tunnel, one of the world’s longest highway tunnels at its altitude, which has permanently transformed connectivity in Himachal Pradesh by ensuring all-weather access to remote regions and boosting tourism and economic activity.
Call for Timely State Support
He added that while the Centre is allocating record resources for infrastructure development, timely approvals, land acquisition, and matching funding from the state government are crucial for completing projects within the stipulated timelines. He urged the state government to ensure swift administrative clearances so that centrally funded projects can deliver maximum benefits to the people.
Infrastructure-Led Growth to Transform Himachal
Concluding, Thakur said that infrastructure-led development will reshape Himachal Pradesh’s economic future. New rail corridors, modern highways, airport expansion under the UDAN scheme, and strategic projects like the Bhanupli-Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line will collectively position Himachal as a major tourism, logistics, and economic hub in the Himalayan region.
He reiterated that the Central Government remains committed to balanced regional development and is working relentlessly to strengthen connectivity, economic opportunities, and national security through unprecedented infrastructure investments across India and Himachal Pradesh.
