Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and discussed in detail the pending road projects of the state. He said that National Highway No-87E (109) (Jeolikot to Karnprayag) connecting Kumaon to Garhwal division should be approved soon. Union Minister Gadkari assured that the DPR of this project will be given the go-ahead this month itself.
He said that a project of Rs 250 crore is being approved for Uttarakhand in CIRF (The Center for Research in International Finance). The Chief Minister informed that the Union Minister has approved the proposal for widening of 305 km road from Gwaldam-Simli to Bageshwar-Jauljivi. He requested Gadkari to release the amount under Fixed Deposit Receipt (C) for smoothening the disaster damaged national highways in hilly areas.
Gadkari asked to send again the proposal for repair of roads damaged by floods. The Chief Minister also said that the State Public Works Department should be nominated as the construction agency for the geometrical improvement and widening work of National Highway-109. The Union Minister has agreed to this.
Instructions for early completion of Mussoorie’s tunnel project:
On the request of the Chief Minister, the Union Minister directed the officers of NHAI to expedite the work on the important two-lane tunnel project of Mussoorie. The Chief Minister lobbied to approve the DPR cost of 367.35 crores for the two-lane widening of National Highway-123 (507) from Damta to Barkot. He said that this route is an alternative route for the Chardham Yatra. The Union Minister assured to give its approval soon. The alignment work for the Dehradun Ring Road construction work is in the final stages. The Union Minister has also taken a positive stand on this.
Approval of DPR for the route connecting Uttarakhand-Himachal soon
Gadkari gave consent for early approval of the alignment proposal for conversion of National Highway-72B (707) (Fediz to Sanail) into two-lane connecting Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Also, in view of the high traffic density in the Srinagar urban area, requests were also made for bypass plans. The Union Minister said that the DPR of both these schemes would be approved this month. Uttarakhand’s Public Works Department Minister Satpal Maharaj and Secretary Dr. Pankaj Pandey were also present in the meeting.
Dhami sought cooperation from Gadkari on the tunnel project:
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami sought cooperation from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for tunnel projects on several routes in border hilly areas, especially in Pithoragarh district. He said that these projects would reduce the distance by several kms. The Chief Minister has also got a positive trend on the construction of Khatima-Pilibhit bypass and two ROBs in Khatima.
Chief Minister Dhami informed the Union Minister Gadkari that with the construction of a five km tunnel between Jaulikang (Beas Valley) in Pithoragarh district to Bedag, and a 20 km road to Sipu, the road constructed by BRO and CPWD from Tawaghat to Vedang will be connected. This will reduce the distance between Jolikang and Bedang by 161 km. Darma Valley and Johar Valley will be connected to each other through a 22 km long tunnel between Sipu and Tola. Johar Valley to Latthal in Chamoli district can be connected by road.
He said that with the construction of these three tunnel routes and 20 km road, the distance from Jolikang to Lapthal will be about 42 km. Presently it is 490 km. He further requested to approve the construction of 19 km long motorway and about 3 km long tunnel from both sides to connect Vedang village ahead of Go village.
The Chief Minister requested to get the Khatima-Pilibhit bypass constructed through NHAI. Nitin Gadkari said to consider it. On the request of the Chief Minister for the construction of ROB on Laghat Vanmaholia Marg in Khatima and Khatima Lohiahead Marg, the Union Minister instructed the officials to conduct the tests.
No discussion on cabinet expansion yet:
Talking to the media in New Delhi on Monday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that cabinet expansion is not the priority of his visit. There was no discussion in this regard with the central leaders. There has been extensive damage to roads in the state due to floods. In a meeting with the Union Home Minister last day, he informed about the flood damage to the state and the steps taken for disaster management. He told about the discussion held with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on road projects.
Villages with population up to 150 to be connected by road in PMGSY:
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the government has started an exercise to connect villages with a population of 150 to 249. In this sequence, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami put this issue prominently in the meeting held with Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh in Delhi on Monday. Chief Minister Dhami said that so far there is a provision to connect only villages with a population of 250 by road in the PMGSY. The population of settlements is less in Uttarakhand with heterogeneous geography.
Habitations with a population of 150 to 249 should also be linked to the PMGSY, depending on the circumstances of the state. According to the Chief Minister, the Union Minister has assured to conduct a test in this regard. The Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for extending the period for completion of PMGSY one and two works till March 31, 2024. The meeting also discussed about Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. Union Minister assured that keeping in view the present situation of Uttarakhand in view of remaining targets of this scheme, efforts will be made for additional allocation.
