Attempting to raise the spirits of people in the lower regions of the state, the government is examining the possibility of setting up a medical college in Una district as a part of its plans to expand the education and health infrastructure. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said this during his visit to the district today.

In the past week, Dhumal has already made known his efforts to improve rail connectivity in Una district. In a letter written to the Railways Minister, Dhumal sought a new train to Haridwar and extension of route of Shatabdi train from Chandigarh to Una and asked for provisions for these in the rail budget for year 2008. An international airport is next on the cards, for which the government seems quite enthusiastic. Dhumal said, “People living in the border district of Una should also be able to get premium medical and education facilities near their homes.”

The other sectors being targeted by the government are tourism and horticulture. It has activated the tourism department to study the avenues for tourism in the district, which lags behind on this front. Una shares its border with Punjab, but most of the tourist traffic to the state is routed through Solan and Bilaspur district. The district is used as a gateway by only those who visit the lower regions of the state for temple tourism.

Horticulture extension activities for kinnow growers, like better quality of plant species, have also been stepped up. In the government’s first cabinet meet itself, it had raised the support price for citrus fruits that are largely grown in the lower regions.