Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), during the meeting the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the continuous support and guidance provided by the Central Government for the development of Uttarakhand.CM Dhami said that with this cooperation the state is achieving new heights of development. He also invited the Prime Minister to visit Uttarakhand.On this occasion, the Chief Minister also presented a replica of Shaktipeeth Maa Surkanda Devi along with ghee of Badri cow, five types of kidney beans and honey obtained from different districts of the state.The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for sanctioning assistance of Rs 500 crore for Haridwar Kumbh-2027, launching the feasibility study under the River Linking Project by the National Water Development Agency, sanctioning Rs 100 crore for the development of Chaurasi Kutiya in Rajaji National Park, signing the MoU for Naini-Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh and extending support for safe helicopter services during the Char Dham Yatra.He also expressed gratitude for the approval of major infrastructure projects like undergrounding of power lines in Rishikesh, Champawat Bypass, Dehradun Ring Road and Dehradun-Mussoorie Road.According to the CMO, during the meeting the Chief Minister provided detailed information about the steps taken by the state government based on the suggestions given by the Prime Minister during his visit to Uttarakhand. He highlighted that efforts are underway to develop Uttarakhand as a global wedding destination, with locations like Chopta, Duggalbitta, Patwadangar and Sharda Corridor being developed, while Ramnagar, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Triyuginarayan have already gained popularity. A dedicated wedding venue policy is also being made.He further informed that areas like Bel Kedar, Anjanisain-Tehri and Lohaghat-Shyamtal have been identified as Spiritual Economic Zones. The number of devotees has increased significantly since the beginning of winter pilgrimage.With the introduction of helicopter services, the number of pilgrims visiting Adi Kailash increased from 1,761 in 2022 to 36,453 in 2025. The state is also promoting adventure tourism activities like river rafting, paragliding and kayaking. Local products are being promoted globally through the House of Himalaya brand under the “Vocal for Local” initiative.The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister about initiatives like “One District One Fair”, Cluster School Schemes, Bharat Darshan and Uttarakhand Darshan programs aimed at promoting education, tourism, rural economy and self-employment. CM Dhami requested for extension of Regional Rapid Transit System from Meerut to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also sought policy support for setting up defense equipment manufacturing units in the state, citing Uttarakhand’s strategic location, skilled manpower and industrial infrastructure.According to the CMO, proposals were made to set up defense industrial centers at Kotdwar, Haridwar and Dehradun as well as development of BI-Duck bridge at Raiwala and expansion of Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarkashi. The Chief Minister proposed the introduction of seaplane services at Tehri Lake and requested for the construction of Delhi-Haldwani Expressway, which will improve connectivity to Kashipur, Rudrapur industrial areas, Pantnagar Airport and Jim Corbett National Park, while strengthening logistics for the hilly region. Area. Emphasizing on rail connectivity, he urged for early opening of Rishikesh-Vyasi section under Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project, construction of a road-cum-rail tunnel in Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line, survey for Bageshwar-Karnprayag rail line and doubling of Haridwar-Dehradun rail track. He also proposed a new Rishikesh-Uttarakashi rail line to improve connectivity to Gangotri and Yamunotri and strengthen the supply chain for local products. The Chief Minister invited the Prime Minister to Uttarakhand for the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremonies of major projects. Proposed inaugurations include the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and Tehri Pumped Storage Plant, while there are plans to lay the foundation stone of Pantnagar airport expansion and Banbasa Land Port project. CM Dhami said that Banbasa Land Port located on the India-Nepal border will enhance trade, connectivity and regional cooperation and strengthen international connectivity through the Asian Highway.The Chief Minister also highlighted several major reforms and initiatives in the state. More than 6,000 homestays have been registered under the homestay scheme, and the country’s first free marketing portal, “UttaraStays”, has been launched. Centers of Excellence for apple, cherry, plum and pear cultivation have been set up at Chaubatiya, Almora along with farmer training programmes. Under the Vibrant Village Programme, selected border villages are being developed by promoting local culture, cuisine and handicrafts.He described the “Mukhyamantri Saur Swarozgar Yojana” which provides employment through solar energy projects as a game-changer for rural livelihoods. Thousands of entrepreneurs have received incubation assistance under “Mukhyamantri Udyamita Yojana”. “Devbhoomi Parivar Yojana” is creating an integrated digital database of families to ensure transparent delivery of government schemes. Additionally, the state has implemented “Agniveer Reservation Rules-2025”, which provides 10% reservation in state services for ex-Agniveer. Through the “Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas Bill-2026”, the procedures have been simplified by amending various laws and abolishing more than 500 old rules. The Chief Minister emphasized that major reforms have been undertaken in the industrial, labour, mining, revenue and urban development sectors to improve the ease of doing business in the State.