Dehradun, June 27 (HS). Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Thursday and congratulated and wished him on behalf of the people of the state for getting the responsibility of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways again. The Chief Minister said that under his able leadership, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will set unprecedented records.
The Chief Minister apprised Union Road Transport Minister Gadkari that the Government of India has given in-principle consent in 2016 to upgrade six routes of the state namely Khairna-Ranikhet, Buakhal-Devprayag, Devprayag-Gaja-Khadi, Panduwakhal Nagchulakhaal-Bajron, Biharigarh-Roshanabad and Lakshmanjhula-Dugdda-Mohan-Ranikhet as National Highways. He requested for issuance of notification of the said demands.
The Chief Minister requested to notify the 256.90 km long Khairna-Ranikhet- Bhatraunjkhan- Bhikiyasain- Deghat- Mahalchauri- Nagchulakhal- Bungidhar- Banjaron road connecting Kumaon and Garhwal as a national highway and said that notifying it as a national highway will lead to economic development of the region along with increase in tourism activities in Kumaon and Garhwal region. This road will connect five assembly constituencies- Nainital, Ranikhet, Salt, Karnaprayag and Thalisain. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to notify the 189 km long Kathgodam- Bhimtal- Dhanachuli- Mornaula- Khetikhaan- Lohaghat- Pancheshwar motor road as a national highway.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Road Transport Minister to convert the road from Mohkampur ROB to Ajabpur ROB (from Vidhan Sabha Chowk to Mohkampur) into an elevated road and said that its cost has been estimated to be Rs 452 crore. He requested to include the proposed work in the Annual Plan 2024-25. The Chief Minister said that in view of the increasing number of vehicles in Dehradun city, construction of 51.59 km long Dehradun Ring Road is proposed. At present, the work of Dehradun Ring Road is being done by NHAI. The construction work of four lane is in progress in a total length of 12.00 km from Asharodi to Jhajra. While the process of preparing DPR of the route is being done by aligning the remaining work. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister for the construction of 17.88 km Rishikesh bypass road costing Rs 1432 crore along with the approval of its remaining work. The Union Road Transport Minister has given in-principle consent to these proposals.
The Chief Minister informed Union Minister Gadkari that Afzalgarh Bhaguwala bypass is being constructed by NHAI in Kumaon region, for this the process of finalization of alignment is being done and the proposal of LAC has been approved by NHAI headquarters. The Chief Minister requested to provide administrative and financial approval on the said projects under consideration in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. The Union Minister has also given in-principle consent on this.
The Chief Minister apprised Union Minister Gadkari of the problem of increasing traffic pressure between Mussoorie-Dehradun and requested that the connectivity of the 40 km long Dehradun-Mussoorie road should also be approved. The construction of this road will help in providing additional connectivity between Dehradun and Mussoorie. He said that the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and the traffic going to Mussoorie for Himachal Pradesh, Punjab etc. will be able to use this connectivity without entering Dehradun city and decongest the city. The Chief Minister said that the proposed connectivity for Mussoorie will start from Jhajra roundabout on NH 7 and end in Mussoorie near Library Chowk. The process of preparing the DPR of the project estimated cost of Rs 3425 crore is in progress. The Union Road Transport Minister has also given in-principle approval on this.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to approve the construction of Kainchidham bypass and said that Kainchidham is located at km 24 of Jyolikot-Almora motor road, National Highway 109. A large number of devotees visit this place and the road is jammed with vehicles. At present, widening of this road (Jyolikot to Khairna) into 2 lanes is proposed, the alignment of which has been sent to the Chief Engineer Regional Officer, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India for approval. The length of this bypass will be 1.900 km. A 325 meter tunnel is also proposed 275 meters after the starting point of this bypass. Apart from this, the Chief Minister also requested for construction of ring road for Khatima city, construction of Haldwani bypass, bypass for Pantnagar airport along with construction of Champawat bypass, Lohaghat bypass, Pithoragarh bypass.
During the meeting with the Union Minister, the Chief Minister informed that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India is providing special support to the state government through Chardham Road Project, CRIF, NH and NHAI. He said that out of 13 districts of Uttarakhand, 10 districts are completely mountainous and the main means of transport in these districts is road. In order to make the roads smooth for movement in every season, the roads should be built as all-season routes and in view of the fact that the borders of many districts of the state are international borders, military movement takes place through road routes only. It is in the interest of the state to maintain the movement of common people and military movement in strategically very important districts.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Road Transport Minister for approval on the above proposals related to construction of roads of state importance. The Union Minister has assured all possible cooperation in this regard.