Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has said that Uttarakhand has a great potential in the field of wellness tourism, Yoga, Ayurveda and Information Technology (IT). He was addressing a seminar titled ‘Vision of Infrastructure Development in India’ during the third meeting of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank at National Centre for Performing Arts ( NCPA) in Mumbai on Monday.
Terming Uttarakhand as a development aspirant state, Rawat said that the state has an immense scope for investments in the field of infrastructure. He cited ‘ All weather road’ and other projects as testimony of the state’s effort on development.
CM said that the world has started acknowledging the power of yoga and the state’s image is brightening as it is endowed with a great potential in the field of yoga and Ayurveda. Rawat opined that a Medi City can be set up in the state where all forms of medical services – Ayurveda, allopathic homeopathic are naturopathy- are available in suffusion.
To woo the investors to the state, the CM said that the government aims to make the state an innovation hub and accordingly, a start-up policy has been formulated. He also pitched for his state, terming Uttarakhand as one among the leading states in ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
Rawat added that an investment friendly environment is prevailing in the state with a single window clearance system being in operation. He cited road improvement and road security, ropeways, mass rapid transport system, drinking water infrastructure, sewerage, rejuvenation of water resources, Jamrani, Song and Tyuni dam projects, micro hydel projects, laying of power transmission lines, infrastructure development in urban areas, International convention centre at Rishikesh and development of Tehri as a tourist destination as the avenues for investment in the state.
Rawat opined that the state can speed up development only if there is excellent digital infrastructure along with physical infrastructure. the Uttarakhand is trying to increase the internet connectivity across the state, he said, adding that Uttarakhand is the first state which is using ballon technology for mobile and internet connectivity.
CM said that on the lines of Special Economic Zones, exclusive digital zone could be established where IT based services, BPO, call centres and design and manufacturing units of electronics systems could be set up.
Union minister for Railways, Piyush Goel also took part in the discussion.