Shimla: Himachal Pradesh is well positioned to become a leader in green hydrogen production and had already initiated work in the sector before the launch of India’s first hydrogen-powered train, Principal Media Advisor to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Naresh Chauhan, said on Friday.
Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of the country’s first hydrogen-powered train in Haryana, Chauhan said hydrogen was the fuel of the future and an important step in India’s clean energy transition, ANI reported.
“We welcome the Prime Minister’s launch of the hydrogen-powered train. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, and it is encouraging that India is moving in that direction. At the same time, Himachal Pradesh had already begun work on green hydrogen and had submitted proposals for hydrogen production and pilot projects,” Chauhan told ANI.
He said the state government had explored producing green hydrogen using Himachal Pradesh’s abundant hydropower and solar energy resources and had proposed pilot projects, including the possible use of hydrogen on the Kalka-Shimla railway line.
According to Chauhan, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had prioritised green hydrogen soon after assuming office, recognising its potential to drive the state’s clean energy ambitions.
“We are a state blessed with clean hydropower and solar energy, making Himachal one of the best-suited states for green hydrogen production,” he said.
Chauhan said the state’s renewable energy resources provided a strong foundation for developing a green hydrogen ecosystem, supporting both clean transportation and industrial decarbonisation, according to ANI.
Apart from green hydrogen, Chauhan said the Himachal Pradesh government was modernising the state’s healthcare system by introducing advanced medical technologies, expanding specialist services and increasing the capacity of nursing and paramedical education.
He said the government had installed robotic surgery systems in three government hospitals, introduced PET scan facilities, upgraded MRI infrastructure and strengthened healthcare services in rural areas through new diagnostic equipment and specialist recruitment.
The state has also recruited more than 3,400 healthcare personnel over the past three years and expanded postgraduate medical education to address shortages of skilled healthcare professionals, Chauhan added.
