PM lays foundation stone of AIIMS, Steel Plant and IIIT in poll-bound HP

Shimla/Bilaspur, Oct 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid foundation stone of All India Instituted of Medical Science at Bilaspur, IIIT at Una and dedicated a Steel Processing Plant at Kandroori in Kangra district to public through video conferencing form Indra Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Bilaspur. The Prime Minister landed at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium at Bilaspur. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakesh Nadda, MP Anurag Thakur, BJP leader Shanta Kumar and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal received the Prime Minister at the HPCA ground and headed towards Indra Gandhi Indoor Stadium where he was welcomed by Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Mr Modi laid foundation stones of three projects which would come out in Hamirpur Parliamentary segment. AIIMS unit is likely to be commissioned in four years and would be come up on 205 acres area. The institute would cost about Rs 1350 crore having 750 beds. The steel plant was built up by the Steel Authority of India under Make in India Mission since 2014 onwards after spending Rs 70 crore dedicated to the public. Later, Mr Modi rush to address a BJP rally organised at Govind Sagar ground in Bilaspur. Mr Modi visited poll-bound Himachal and it was his third visit to this hill state as he had earlier addressed two Parivaratan rallies at Mandi and Shimla. The rally was considered as an acid test for Mr Nadda as Bilaspur is his assembly segment and moreover the foundation stone of AIIMS was his dream project. Mr Nadda who is likely to be Chief Ministerial candidate for the BJP in the state was camping here for past four days to make this rally success. Mr Nadda is third strongest leader after two-time former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal. Mr Modi claimed this hill state close to his heart because he has been remained state party incharge in 1998 before he was elevated to the Chief minister of Gujarat. Special arrangements were made to ferry people from other side of Govinder Sagar valley to the rally ground as 60 boats have been hired to reach the rally. Before the stone laying ceremony, Mr Singh presented the Prime Minister a Himachali cap, shawl and thank painting. The function was also attended by state Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, party state unit president Satpal Sati and Transport Minister GS Bali. UNI