Narendra Modi Launches Over Rs 10,000 Crore Projects in Chandigarh and Punjab

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects totaling over Rs 10,000 crore across Chandigarh and Punjab between July 17 and July 18, 2026. In Chandigarh, the Prime Minister launched initiatives worth more than Rs 4,700 crore focused on road infrastructure, education, and healthcare, including the expansion of advanced facilities at PGI Chandigarh. During a public gathering, he described the city as a model of planned development for India and noted that it was the first location to implement the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Following the Chandigarh events, Modi visited Jalandhar, Punjab, where he unveiled infrastructure projects totaling Rs 5,470 crore. These developments included the modernization of 75 Amrit Bharat railway stations, a new section of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, and the flagging off of the Shri Sant Ravidas Express. During this visit, the Prime Minister campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, accusing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party of corruption and poor governance. He argued that Punjab needs an independent BJP government to ensure a double-engine administration.

The tour was marked by a brief on-stage interaction between Modi and Congress MP Manish Tewari in Chandigarh. Tewari later defended the interaction as an adherence to protocol and basic courtesies, prioritizing development over partisan politics. This exchange followed Tewari's public expressions of frustration after being excluded from a Punjab Congress reshuffle ahead of the 2027 elections.