(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh’s Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh has exciting news for fans of the state’s late leader. On Friday, October 3, he revealed that a statue honoring former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will get unveiled on October 13 right on the historic Ridge in Shimla.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will lead the ceremony, joining Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, and top Congress figures. Thousands of party workers are expected to show up too. Vikramaditya Singh, who also chairs the Virbhadra Singh Trust, called the late leader the “architect of modern Himachal” and said Priyanka will do the honors in front of everyone.
The event was supposed to happen back on June 23, but heavy rains and devastating floods in Himachal Pradesh forced a delay. “At that time, so many lives were lost, and homes and property faced huge damage,” Vikramaditya told . “We didn’t think it was right to celebrate then.” Now, with better weather and talks with national leaders, they’ve set the new date for October 13. He also sent invites to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi.
Alongside the announcement, Vikramaditya urged tourists to come back to Himachal Pradesh. The state hit hard during the monsoon, with over 1,600 roads blocked at the peak. But crews have worked nonstop to fix things—major highways are reopening, bridges and walls are getting repaired, and PWD teams are all over the place with equipment.
“The weather’s improving, and visitors are starting to return,” he said. “I appeal to people from Himachal, Bihar, and other states: Please come. Himachal is safe now. Boosting our economy is everyone’s job, and the government promises full safety for all tourists.” While some temporary routes are open, bigger fixes like bridges and culverts are in progress, with tenders already out.
The central government stepped up with a ₹1,500 crore package for Himachal, and Vikramaditya confirmed his department is jumping on tenders and starting work right away. He described the floods as North India’s worst disaster in a century, slamming Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. “We’re rebuilding strong and taking steps to prevent this in the future,” he added.
The October 13 unveiling should pull in senior Congress leaders and a big crowd, all celebrating Virbhadra Singh’s huge role in Himachal’s growth.
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