Introduction: A Festival of Growth
Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah joined Uttarakhand leaders at the Uttarakhand Investment Festival 2025. He celebrated the realisation of ₹1 lakh crore investments. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth ₹1,271 crore.
He praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and his team. He emphasized this milestone as proof of uniform development across India—including small and eastern states.
Dev Bhoomi’s Harmony: Nature & Industry
Amit Shah highlighted Uttarakhand’s balance of spiritual heritage and industrial growth. He described it as Dev Bhoomi, blessed by the Char Dham, Ganga, Yamuna and ancient sages. He said this sacred identity coexists with modern ambitions.
He noted that nearly half of India’s drinking water and irrigation flows from Uttarakhand’s rivers. He declared that local tourism, Ayurveda, yoga, organic farming form the four pillars of Uttarakhand’s development.
From MoUs to ₹1 Lakh Crore Reality
Shri Shah recalled the 2023 Global Investors Summit when proposed MoUs worth ₹3.56 lakh crore were signed. He stressed realisation matters more than signatures. Today, ₹1 lakh crore has entered Uttarakhand, he announced.
He added more than 81,000 direct jobs have been created. Further, 2.5 lakh indirect jobs could emerge through ancillary industries. Significantly, investments reached Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 towns.
Infrastructure That Connects & Empowers
Amit Shah praised Central government for upgrading roads and logistics. He shared impressive national figures:
- +60% national highways in a decade
- 8 lakh km of rural roads built
- 45,000 km railway electrified
- 88 new airports
- Inland waterway cargo increased 11x
He said these efforts helped propel India from 11th to 4th largest economy in 10 years. He predicted India to be the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2027.
Welfare Meets Infrastructure
Shri Shah stressed that growth and welfare can go hand in hand. He cited Modi government’s record:
- 5 kg free grains to 80 crore poor
- Free treatment up to ₹5 lakh
- Tap water in 16 crore homes
- Toilets in 12 crore
- LPG cylinders in 13 crore
- Electricity in 3 crore
- Homes for 4 crore
- 25 crore lifted above poverty line
He said such welfare proves infrastructure isn’t built at the poor’s expense.
Uttarakhand: A Microcosm of Modi’s Vision
Amit Shah said Uttarakhand’s progress shows how “small states” fuel uniform national development. He reminded that Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh were born in Vajpayee’s era. Modi has built on that foundation.
He hit back at disruptions by the opposition, urging focus on progress. He called for unity to support the state’s clear development roadmap.
Tourism & Spiritual Infrastructure
He highlighted key infrastructure projects:
- All-weather roads to the four Dhams
- 12 km ropeway from Govind Ghat to Hemkund Sahib (₹2,700 crore)
- Sonprayag–Kedarnath ropeway (₹4,000 crore)
These projects aim to attract year-round pilgrims and tourists. Shah credited government legal efforts in Supreme Court for these projects’ smooth progress.
Industry with Ease: Policy & Transparency
Uttarakhand’s single‑window system eases approvals. Specialized policies for tourism, start-ups, film cities, services, and AYUSH enhance growth. He applauded the plug-and-play industrial clusters in Haridwar, Dehradun, and Udham Singh Nagar.
Ayurveda, yoga, natural treatment, organic farming—and now exports via container depots—form a holistic vision. Shah said these pillars will attract global investment and tourists.
Unmatched Fiscal Support
Amit Shah compared past and present support:
2004–14: ₹53,000 crore grants.
2014–24: ₹1.86 lakh crore, plus ₹31,000 crore for roads, ₹40,000 crore for rail, ₹100 crore for airports.
That’s over 4x more resources than in the previous decade. He stressed that every citizen should support progress, not disrupt it.
Culture & Heritage at the Core
Shah stressed that development doesn’t mean abandoning culture. Infrastructure must reflect Indianness—language, heritage, identity. He called for fast-paced, culturally rooted development across India.
He also deflected blame on activists who challenge projects. He said policies protect environment and heritage, and judicial processes uphold both.
Conclusion: Uttarakhand as India’s Growth Beacon
The Uttarakhand Investment Festival 2025 showcased how spiritual legacy and modern growth can align. Shri Amit Shah’s address served as a blueprint for coastal and landlocked states alike.
As India marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, Uttarakhand shines as a model state. It blends industrialisation, tourism, welfare, and culture. It proves small states can lead big change—with unity, vision, and purpose.
