India, March 10 -- Newly sworn-in governor Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday reached out to the people of Himachal Pradesh, promising to act as a bridge with the Union government to accelerate development in the hill state.

Addressing his first press conference after being administered the oath of office by high court chief justice GS Sandhawalia at Lok Bhavan in Shimla, Gupta emphasised on a collaborative approach. "I will work collectively with all stakeholders to ensure the state's potential is fully realised," he said.

Highlighting the state's economic engine, he identified tourism as a core focus. "There is immense scope for growth in this region, particularly in religious tourism. We will strive to create a dedicated roadmap for this in t...