Eye on state polls: PM Modi launches Vande Bharat Express, pharma park during Himachal trip

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated a number of infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh that goes to polls next month.
The list includes a high speed train, a drug park and a technical institute.
"The double engine government has given the state new infrastructure in every step. I am pleased to announce gifts worth several thousand crores to Himachal before Dhanteras and Diwali" the Prime Minister said during a public address.
BJP is looking to retain the hill state where it won 44 of the 68 seats in the 2017 assembly elections, while in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections it won all the four seats in the state.
The Election Commission, which just concluded its three-day visit to the state, is likely to announce the election schedule in the next few days.

Here are the major projects the Prime Minister inaugurated during his visit to the state on Thursday:
Amb Andaura-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express
PM Modi flagged off high-speed luxury fourth Vande Bharat Express from Una in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday morning.
Running from Amb Andaura to New Delhi, the country's 4th Vande Bharat Express is an advanced version compared to the earlier ones, being much lighter and capable of reaching higher speed in shorter duration.
It accelerates to 100 km per hour in just 52 seconds. The introduction of the train will help boost tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and faster mode of travel.
Bulk Drug Park
PM Modi laid the foundation stone of a Bulk Drug Park that is expected to attract investment of around Rs 10,000 crore and provide employment to more than 20,000 people from Una town.
The facility will help reduce dependence on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or pharmaceutical raw material imports.
"Medicines will become cheaper when both raw materials and production will take place in Himachal Pradesh," The PM said.
IIIT at Una
PM Modi also dedicated the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Una to the nation on Thursday morning. The foundation stone of the institute was laid by him in 2017. Currently, more than 530 students are pursuing study in the institute.
"Pharma, education and railway projects launched in HP's Una will have positive impact on region's progress," Modi said.
Power, road projects
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stones of two hydropower projects- the 48 MW Chanju-III Hydro-electric Project and the 30 MW Deothal Chanju Hydro-electric Project.
Both these projects will generate over 270 million units of electricity annually and Himachal Pradesh is expected to get annual revenue of around Rs 110 crore from these projects.
Lauding the state-Centre cooperation for development, he said BJP's double-engine government made domestic gas connections available for every home.
Modi also launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III in Himachal Pradesh for upgradation of around 3,125 km of roads in the state.
More than Rs 420 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre under this phase for the upgradation of 440 km of roads in 15 border and far-flung blocks of the state.

Outreach to tribals
Hundred per cent water coverage has been made in tribal areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur under 'Har Ghar Jal Yojna,' PM Modi said during a rally in Chamba.
Providing ST status to the Hatti community shows that this government cares for tribal people, he added.