Inaugural NBT Uttarakhand Ratna award presented to Prasoon Joshi

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Utsav, an event organised by Navbharat Times (NBT) in Dehradun to mark 25 years of the state on Mon brought together policymakers and cultural figures, with discussions ranging from energy challenges to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of cinema. The highlight of the event was the conferring of the inaugural NBT Uttarakhand Ratna award to author, poet and Padma Shri awardee Prasoon Joshi, by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.Highlighting key projects, Dhami said the Dehradun-Delhi Expressway marks a historic occasion milestone, while the Rishikesh-Karanprayag rail line is nearing completion. He added that the Centre has approved the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail project, estimated at Rs 48,000 crore, and work is underway to upgrade 11 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Union minister of state for surface transport Ajay Tamta highlighted ropeway projects planned for easier access to pilgrimage sites such as Kedarnath and Hemkund.Film director Madhur Bhandarkar spoke about changes in the Hindi film industry and said Uttarakhand could emerge as a hub for nurturing new talent. Poet Nawaz Deobandi and poet Pratibha Katiyar discussed the role of AI in creative fields, saying that while “it can replicate existing expressions, it cannot create truly novel thought”.Among those present were environmentalist and Padma Bhushan awardee Anil Joshi, forest department head Ranjan Mishra and forestry expert MP Singh.State minister for parliamentary affairs, forests and health Subodh Uniyal said Uttarakhand’s budget has grown significantly, reaching Rs 1.1 lakh crore this year, compared to Rs 65,000 crore in Himachal Pradesh. He added that the state has expanded its healthcare infrastructure from a single medical college at the time of formation to multiple institutions across districts.“By leveraging modern technology to promote spirituality and religious tourism, the govt is striving to transform the entire state of Uttarakhand into a truly unique and distinguished destination within the country,” said Pradeep Batra, the state’s minister for science, technology, and transport.