Dehradun: A review meeting was held in Delhi regarding national highway projects. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also participated in this meeting, which was chaired by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. During the meeting on Monday, January 5, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requested approval for proposals related to the construction of the Rishikesh bypass, Almora-Danya-Panar-Ghat road, Jyolikot-Khairna-Gairsain-Karnprayag road, and Almora-Bageshwar-Kanda-Udiyari Band road, along with other important state proposals related to national highways.
12 km bypass proposed in Rishikesh: During the discussion on the state’s proposed road projects in the meeting, it was informed that the Rishikesh bypass project – under National Highway number seven – proposes the construction of a 12.67 km long four-lane bypass from Teen Pani to Kharasrot via Yoganagari, at an estimated cost of Rs 1161.27 crore.
Under this project, an elevated road of 4.876 km length is proposed for three elephant corridors, a 200-meter-long bridge over the Chandrabhaga river, and a 76-meter-long ROB (Road Over Bridge) at the railway portal. In addition, a 76-meter-long ROB is proposed at the Shyampur railway crossing at a cost of Rs 318 crore, which will ensure uninterrupted traffic flow from Nepali Farm to Rishikesh Natraj Chowk.
Proposal for two-lane widening in Almora: A proposal has been made for two-lane widening of a 76 km stretch of the Almora-Danya-Panar-Ghat road – National Highway number 309B – at an estimated cost of Rs 988 crore. A proposal for two-lane widening alignment is also included for a 235 km stretch of the Jyolikot-Khairna-Gairsain-Karnprayag road – under National Highway number 109. In addition, work is proposed on the Almora-Bageshwar-Kanda-Udiyari Bandh road under National Highway No. 309A, in packages 1, 2 and 5, covering a total length of 84.04 km at a cost of Rs. 1001.99 crore. The proposal for the transfer of forest land for the Kanda to Bageshwar section (Package-02) has received approval from the Government of India.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s statement: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that significant work has been done in the direction of developing road infrastructure in Uttarakhand. The roads of Uttarakhand are not only strengthening pilgrimage and tourism, but also industry, border security, disaster management and the local economy. This transformation is not just a result of road construction, but of visionary leadership and a clear vision.
More than 336 kilometers of projects completed: CM Dhami informed that the Char Dham Mahamarg project worth Rs. 12,769 crore has been sanctioned on national highways with the objective of making the Char Dham Yatra easy, accessible and safe. Uttarakhand has a total national highway network of 3,723 kilometers connecting the state to all parts of the country. Of these, approximately 597 kilometers of national highways have been designed and implemented by NHAI, of which more than 336 kilometers of projects have been completed.
According to CM Dhami, construction work is in progress on approximately 193 kilometers of roads, with an estimated cost of more than Rs. 15,890 crore. Through these projects, religious, urban and industrial centers like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Haldwani and Kathgodam have been connected with wide, safe and convenient roads.
Four-lane corridors like Kashipur-Sitarganj (77 km), Rudrapur-Kathgodam (50 km) and Haridwar-Nagina (67 km) have significantly improved access to industrial areas, agricultural markets and tourist destinations. Under the Delhi-Dehradun corridor, a nearly 30 km long six-lane access-controlled highway has been developed in the Ganeshpur-Dehradun section, which includes a tunnel and an 18 km long elevated section. More than ₹1,995 crore has been invested in this project.
In addition, projects like the Dehradun bypass (12 km, ₹716 crore) and the Haridwar bypass (15 km, ₹1,603 crore) will prove effective in reducing traffic congestion in urban areas. The Banbasa ICP connectivity on the India-Nepal border is being developed over a length of 4 km at a cost of ₹366 crore, which will promote international movement and trade.
The Rudrapur-Kashipur bypass and the Haridwar to Delhi-Dehradun Expressway are directly connecting Uttarakhand to the national expressway network. Giving top priority to road safety, black spot improvements, access control at critical junctions, effective signage, and modern road safety measures are being implemented in the state. Through operation and maintenance projects in the hilly areas, arrangements have been made to keep the roads safe and smooth throughout the year.
Keeping future needs in mind, projects like Mussoorie-Dehradun connectivity (40 km, ₹4,000 crore), Haridwar-Haldwani high-speed corridor (197 km, ₹10,000 crore), Rishikesh bypass (13 km, ₹1,200 crore), Dehradun Ring Road, and Lalkuan-Haldwani-Kathgodam bypass are in the preparation and DPR (Detailed Project Report) phase. These will give new impetus to the connectivity between the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Environmental sensitivity has also been taken into account: Keeping environmental sensitivity in mind, measures such as elevated roads, wildlife underpasses, and minimum land use are being adopted in areas like the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, ensuring a balance between development and nature.
