Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar’s vision for progress continues to inspire, says Rajeev Bindal

On the 119th birth anniversary of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar, the architect of Himachal Pradesh and the first Chief Minister of the state, BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal paid floral tributes at his statue in Nahan and highlighted his lasting contributions to the development of the hill state.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Bindal emphasised that the entire state of Himachal Pradesh was paying homage to Dr Parmar, whose vision and dedication laid the foundation for the state’s progress. “Dr Parmar considered roads to be the lifelines of a hilly region like Himachal. He resolved to connect even the remotest corners of the state through road infrastructure,” said Dr Bindal.

Underscoring the significance of rural connectivity, Dr Bindal revealed that out of the total 40,000 km of road network in Himachal Pradesh, nearly 20,000 km were constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) — a Central Government scheme initiated by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He credited Vajpayee’s far-sightedness for launching such an ambitious programme that transformed rural India by ensuring all-weather road connectivity to villages. “The benefits of PMGSY can be seen in every corner of rural Himachal today,” he said, adding that the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continued this developmental vision with greater momentum, significantly strengthening road and transport networks across the country over the past 11 years.

Dr Bindal also noted Dr Parmar’s deep commitment to preserving Himachal’s unique culture, traditions and language. “It was because of Dr Parmar’s efforts that our state retained its rich hill identity and cultural heritage, which continues to thrive today,” he said.