In view of the increasing influx of tourists, the Dhami government has now started efforts to expand the roads in the state. In this episode, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi and placed proposals for various roads before him. On this occasion, in-principle approval was given to the proposals for construction of a bypass for the famous Kainchi Dham in Nainital district along with a 40 km long road project for Dehradun-Mussoorie.
Congratulations on getting the responsibility of the ministry again
Chief Minister Dhami met Union Minister Gadkari on Thursday during his stay in Delhi and congratulated him on getting the responsibility of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways again. During the meeting, the Chief Minister drew Gadkari’s attention to the problem of increasing traffic pressure in the state. In this sequence, he requested to approve the 40 km long route between Dehradun-Mussoorie. He said that the construction of this road will help in providing additional connectivity for Dehradun-Mussoorie. The Chief Minister said that this road will start from Jhajra roundabout in Dehradun and end near Library Chowk in Mussoorie. With this, people going to Mussoorie from Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and Himachal, Punjab will be able to go directly to Mussoorie without entering Dehradun city. The Union Minister gave in-principle approval to this road project costing Rs 3425 crore. The Chief Minister also requested the approval of Kainchidham bypass in Nainital district. He said that Kainchidham is located at km 24 of Jyoalikot-Almora National Highway. Due to the arrival of a large number of devotees here, there is a situation of jam. At present, widening of this highway from Jyoalikot to Khairna in double lane is proposed. The proposal for approval of its alignment has been sent to the Center. The length of this bypass is 1.900 km. A tunnel of 325 meters is also proposed after 275 meters of its starting point. The Union Minister also gave in-principle approval to all this.
Elevated road to be built from Mohkampur to Ajabpur in Dehradun
To reduce the pressure of traffic, the route from Mohkampur ROB to Ajabpur ROB in Dehradun city will be converted into an elevated road. The proposal for this road costing about Rs 452 crore will be included in the plan for the current financial year. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami prominently raised this issue in his meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in Dehradun.
The Chief Minister also informed that a 51.59 km long ring road is proposed in Dehradun. At present, its work is going on in a length of 12 km from Asharodi to Jhajra, while DPR is being prepared for the remaining work. Along with approving this remaining work, he also urged for the construction of 17.88 km long Rishikesh bypass costing Rs 1432 crore. The Union Minister gave in-principle consent to these proposals. The Chief Minister also informed that the National Highway Authority is constructing the Afzalgarh-Bhaguwala bypass in Kumaon region. The process of its alignment is in the final stage. The proposal of this bypass has also been approved by the Authority Headquarters.
The Chief Minister requested that financial and administrative approval be given immediately to the road projects pending in the Central Government including this bypass. The Union Minister also gave in-principle approval on this. Eight routes will be upgraded to National Highways. The Chief Minister informed Union Minister Gadkari that in the year 2016, the Center had given in-principle approval to upgrade six routes Khairna-Ranikhet, Buakhal-Devprayag, Devprayag-Gaja-Khadi, Panduwakhal-Nagchulakhaal-Bajro, Biharigarh-Roshanabad and Laxmanjhula-Dugdda-Mohan-Ranikhet as National Highways. The Chief Minister requested that notification of these routes be issued. He also stressed on notifying the 256.90 km long Khairna-Ranikhet-Bhatraunjkhan-Bhikiyasain-Deghat-Mehalchauri-Nagchulakhaal-Bungidhar-Bajro road connecting Garhwal Kumaon as a national highway. He said that the upgradation of this road connecting Nainital, Ranikhet, Salt, Karnaprayag and Thalisain assembly constituencies will not only increase tourism activities in both the divisions but will also lead to economic development of the region. The Chief Minister also urged to notify the 189 km long Kathgodam-Bhimtal-Dhanachuli-Mornaula-Khetikhan-Lohaghat-Pancheshwar road as a national highway. Proposals for ring road and bypass in Kumaon region The Chief Minister placed before the Union Minister the proposals for ring road in Khatima city, Haldwani bypass, bypass for Pantnagar airport, and also for construction of bypasses in Champawat, Lohaghat and Pithoragarh. The Chief Minister said that 10 out of 13 districts of the state are purely mountainous. Road is the main means of transport there. It is essential to develop these routes as all-weather roads. These roads are also important from a strategic point of view. He also expressed gratitude to the Centre for its cooperation in the development of roads in the state.
