PTC Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab on Wednesday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore. The projects cover railways, highways, healthcare, education and cultural infrastructure. The visit will be marked by the launch of India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train and the inauguration of 75 redeveloped Amrit Bharat railway stations across the country.

Hydrogen train to be flagged off in Jind

PM Narendra Modi will flag off India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train at 11 am in Jind, Haryana. The train will run on the Jind-Sonepat route. The 10-coach train has been developed using indigenous technology and is among the most powerful hydrogen trains in the world. It runs on hydrogen fuel cells and emits only water vapour.

At 11.30 am, Modi will dedicate projects worth around Rs 14,700 crore at Eklavya Stadium in Jind and address a public gathering.

Highway and rail projects in Haryana

PM Modi will dedicate five packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, covering 157.92 km and built at a cost of about Rs 9,680 crore. He will inaugurate the Ambala-Kala Amb Highway, which connects Haryana with Himachal Pradesh and the Jind-Gohana Greenfield Highway, which is expected to reduce travel time between the two towns from nearly two hours to about 40 minutes. The foundation stone for the Hansi-Barwala Highway upgrade will also be laid.

The Kurukshetra Elevated Railway Track will be dedicated to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety.

Two medical colleges to be dedicated in Narnaul

PM Narendra Modi will dedicate the Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government Medical College in Bhiwani and the Maharishi Chyawan Medical College along with Rao Tula Ram Hospital in Narnaul.

He will also lay the foundation stone for a Sikh Museum in Kurukshetra, which will showcase Sikh history, the teachings of the Gurus and the community's contribution to India's heritage.

Chandigarh leg: Healthcare and education projects

Modi will reach Chandigarh at 1.45 pm to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 4,700 crore.

At PGIMER, he will inaugurate a 300-bed Advanced Mother and Child Centre and an Advanced Neurosciences Centre. He will lay the foundation stone for a 150-bed Critical Care Block under the PM-ABHIM scheme.

He will inaugurate a boys' hostel and mess at Punjab Engineering College and a hostel block at Government College, Sector 46. The foundation stone for a Research Scholars' Hostel at PEC will also be laid.

On road connectivity, Modi will inaugurate the IT City-Kurali six-lane Greenfield Highway and lay the foundation stone for the PR-7 Spur of the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway, which will improve access to Aerocity while bypassing Zirakpur.

Rail and road projects in Jalandhar

In Jalandhar, Punjab, Modi will launch and inaugurate rail and road projects worth over Rs 5,470 crore.

He will inaugurate 75 redeveloped Amrit Bharat railway stations across 20 states, built at a cost of around Rs 1,570 crore. He will open the Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli rail line, which will improve connectivity between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Modi will flag off the Kartoli-Ambala train and the Amritsar (Chheharta)-Varanasi train, which will provide a direct rail link between two major religious centres.

He will inaugurate Package 6 of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and lay the foundation stone for the Southern Ludhiana Bypass, aimed at easing congestion and improving freight movement.

Significance of the visit

With the hydrogen train launch, India joins the group of countries operating hydrogen-powered passenger trains. The infrastructure projects, worth around Rs 25,000 crore, are expected to improve connectivity, healthcare and logistics across north India.

The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is expected to sharply reduce travel time to Amritsar and Katra, boosting tourism and economic activity in the region.