Nitin Gadkari reviewed National Highway projects; CM Dhami was also present and advocated for the Rishikesh bypass
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A review meeting was held in Delhi regarding national highway projects. The meeting, chaired by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, was also attended by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. During the meeting on Monday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requested approval for proposals related to the construction of the Rishikesh bypass, the Almora-Danya-Panar-Ghat road, the Jyolikot-Khairna-Gairsain-Karnaprayag road, and the Almora-Bageshwar-Kanda-Udyari Band road, along with other important state-related proposals concerning national highways.
12 km bypass proposed in Rishikesh: During the discussion on the state’s proposed road projects, it was informed that the Rishikesh bypass project – under National Highway Number 7 – proposes the construction of a 12.67 km 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 Road Over Bridge (ROB) 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 the 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 the alignment of two-lane widening of a 235 km stretch of the Jyolikot-Khairna-Gairsain-Karnaprayag road – National Highway Number 109 – has also been submitted. 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.
Over 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 pilgrimage easy, accessible, and safe. Uttarakhand has a total national highway network of 3,723 kilometers connecting the state to various 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 underway on approximately 193 kilometers of roads, with an estimated cost of over 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 smooth 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 project, a nearly 30 km long six-lane access-controlled highway has been developed on the Ganeshpur-Dehradun section, including a tunnel and an 18 km elevated section. More than ₹1,995 crore has been invested in this project.
Additionally, 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. Connectivity to the Banbasa Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the India-Nepal border is being developed over a length of 4 km at a cost of ₹366 crore, which will boost 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, measures such as black spot improvement, 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 regions, arrangements have been made to keep the roads safe and smooth throughout the year.
Keeping future needs in mind, projects like the 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 the Lalkuan-Haldwani-Kathgodam Bypass are in the preparation and Detailed Project Report (DPR) phase. These will give a new impetus to connectivity between the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Environmental sensitivity has also been considered: Taking into account environmental sensitivity, measures such as elevated roads, wildlife underpasses, and minimal land use are being adopted in areas like the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, ensuring a balance between development and nature.
The civil work on the Silkyara-Polgaon tunnel is approximately 90 percent complete. This includes the construction of a dividing wall in the middle of the tunnel, which will be completed in five to six months. Following this, electrical and mechanical work will begin. The target for completing the construction is March 2027.
During the meeting, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that appropriate action would be taken on the proposals submitted by Chief Minister Dhami. He instructed officials to ensure that ongoing projects in the state are completed expeditiously, maintaining quality standards and within the stipulated timeframe.
