Marking the completion of 25 years since the formation of the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke of the challenges that Uttarakhand had faced, and said the “double-engine” government was taking it to new heights. He praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the “courageous” anti-conversion and anti-riot legislation.Modi, donning a traditional pahari cap and sprinkling his speech with Garhwali and Kumaoni phrases, said at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun that the aspirations of Uttarakhand’s residents were fulfilled by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on November 9, 2000 — the state’s Foundation Day. Modi also launched a commemorative postal stamp to mark the occasion.With the BJP in power at both the Centre and the state, he said, “The double-engine government has worked to help the state reach new heights.”On his “deep relationship” with Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister said that when he visited the state during his spiritual journeys, he was inspired by the struggles and the resilience with which the people faced hardships. “When I conducted Baba Kedar darshan, I said this decade belonged to Uttarakhand. This was not just a casual utterance — when I said this, I had faith in you. Today, as Uttarakhand completes 25 years, I am confident that this is the era of Uttarakhand’s rise and prosperity,” he said.Twenty-five years ago, he said, the challenges facing the people of the state were daunting. “Transportation was restricted, the budget was small, earnings were low, and most needs of the state were met by the assistance of the Centre. Today, the picture has changed completely…,” he said.“Twenty-five years ago, the budget was Rs 4,000 crore, and now, it is Rs 1 lakh crore. In 25 years, the electricity production has increased four times, and the length of the road network is twice as long. Earlier, in six months, 4,000 tourists would travel to Uttarakhand by air, and now, in a day, over 4,000 tourists arrive in the region by air. The number of engineering colleges has increased over 10 times. There used to be one medical college, and now there are 10. Vaccine coverage was not even at 25%, and now, every Uttarakhand village has come under vaccination coverage. This journey of progress is astounding and signifies that through inclusivity and taking everyone forward, progress is achieved,” the Prime Minister said.Modi also said that he met with the youth of Uttarakhand, and all of them were enthusiastic about the growth of the region. “If I can summarise this in Garhwali, ‘In 2047, my Uttarakhand, my devbhoomi, will be ready when India becomes developed in 2047’,” he said, switching to the language of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region.Story continues below this adAccusing the Congress of having paused at roadblocks in the state’s path to progress, Modi said that the BJP government has gone beyond the hurdles and ensured that there will be no brakes on the way. “The Dhami government has brought in the Uniform Civil Code, setting an example for other governments. The state government has implemented courageous policies by implementing anti-conversion and anti-riot legislation in the interest of the nation. The government has worked to stop the increasing trend of land encroachments and the attempts at changing the demography,” he said.Spirituality and tourismEspousing the cultural symbols of the state, Modi said that it could become the spiritual capital of the world. “The temples, ashram, meditation and yoga centres of Uttarakhand can be linked to the world’s network. It is time to establish a complete package with centres for yoga, ayurveda, naturopathy, and homestays in every assembly segment. The Union government gives great emphasis to the vibrant village scheme on the borders of the country, and I wish for every vibrant village in Uttarakhand to become hubs of tourism that provide homestays and promote local cuisine and culture,” he said.“Tourists, enveloped by domestic environs, can have dubke, chudkani, rot-arsa, ras-bhaat, and jhangore ki kheer that will bring them back to Uttarakhand again and again,” he added.He also mentioned winter tourism, saying, “Uttarakhand has always held year-round tourism potential. With improving connectivity, I am happy that winter tourism is gaining momentum. We have seen an exponential rise in the number of tourists visiting during winter. The recent high-altitude marathon in Pithoragarh at over 14,000 feet and the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run have become a source of inspiration for the nation. Three years ago, fewer than 2,000 pilgrims would undertake a pilgrimage in Adi Kailash; today, that number has exceeded 30,000. By the time the doors of the Kedarnath temple were closed for the season, over 17 lakh devotees had Kedarnath Dham for darshan.”Story continues below this adHe further said that Uttarakhand is now emerging as a film destination, and the state’s new film policy has made shooting easier, apart from its popularity as a ‘wedding destination’.New projectsThe Prime Minister laid foundation stones for various development projects worth over Rs 8,140 crores. He also released a support amount of Rs 62 crores to more than 28,000 farmers directly into their bank accounts under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana.He said that projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore are underway in the state, including the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway project, Delhi-Dehradun highway, and ropeway projects in Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib.Promoting the potential for fruit production in hill districts, Modi said blueberry, kiwi, herbal, and medicinal plants should be the future of farming.Story continues below this adCongratulating the state on gaining the GI tag for 15 agricultural products, he said the recent recognition for the Bedu fruit and Badri cow ghee was a matter of pride. “Badri cow ghee is the pride of every household in the hills, and Bedu is now reaching markets beyond these villages. Products made from it will now carry the GI tag, and wherever they go, they will carry the identity of Uttarakhand,” he said.