Union Budget 2024-25: A Boon for Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh is set to benefit from the Union Budget 2024-25 with an allocation of Rs 10,351.82 crore. The funds will boost horticulture, road construction, and railway projects. Union Minister Harsh Malhotra highlighted key initiatives, including the Shinkula Tunnel and world-class railway stations.

Himachal Pradesh will gain significantly from the Union Budget 2024-25, receiving a substantial sum of Rs 10,351.82 crore from central funds, according to Union Minister of State for Transport and Highways and Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra on Saturday.

In a press conference detailing the budget's provisions, Malhotra stated that the funds would bolster the state's horticulture, road, and tunnel construction, while also doubling the Mudra loan ceiling to Rs 20 lakh.

Highlighting the massive allocations for infrastructure, Malhotra disclosed that Rs 1,681 crore would finance the 4.1-km Shinkula Tunnel, connecting Lahaul in Himachal to Zanskar in Ladakh. The project, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to enhance regional connectivity.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will undertake the construction of these roads. Additionally, Rs 2,698 crore has been earmarked for railway projects, including the Bhanupali-Bilaspur, Nangal-Talwara, and Chandigarh-Baddi lines, with several stations, including Shimla, being upgraded to world-class standards.