Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched multiple development projects in Chandigarh on 17 July 2026 across healthcare, education, and road infrastructure. The package included hospital facilities at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and highway works linked to the Tricity Ring Road network.
Healthcare Projects at PGIMER
PGIMER, Chandigarh, is a premier public medical institution established in 1962 and functions as a tertiary care and teaching hospital. The Prime Minister inaugurated the 300-bed Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neurosciences Centre at PGIMER on 17 July 2026. The Advanced Mother and Child Centre is designed for maternal and child healthcare services. The Advanced Neurosciences Centre provides integrated neurology, neurosurgery, and neuro-critical care services. The foundation stone for a 150-bed Critical Care Block at PGIMER was also laid under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). PM-ABHIM is a central sector scheme launched in 2021 for strengthening health infrastructure in India.
Road Infrastructure in the Tricity Region
The development package included three National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) road projects worth ₹5,278 crore. These projects form the final links of the 244-km Tricity Ring Road, which is planned at an estimated cost of ₹12,000 crore. The 31.23-km IT City–Kurali Greenfield Corridor was formally inaugurated on 17 July 2026. The corridor is a six-lane road built at a cost of ₹1,936 crore. Foundation stones were laid for the 19.2-km Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass and the 10.3-km PR-7 Spur. The Zirakpur–Panchkula bypass has a reported letter of acceptance value of ₹1,878 crore, while the PR-7 Spur has a reported value of ₹1,464 crore.
Chandigarh as a Union Territory
Chandigarh is a Union Territory and the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. It is also known for planned urban design associated with Le Corbusier and for serving as a regional administrative centre in northern India.
Important Facts for Exams
- PGIMER, Chandigarh, was established in 1962 and is a major postgraduate medical education and research institution.
- PM-ABHIM stands for Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
- The Tricity region includes Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula.
- The National Highways Authority of India was established in 1988 under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988.
