December: A major step was taken towards improving the connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas, making journey to these centres safer, faster and more convenient, when Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi formally launched the ambitious Chardham Highways Development Programme in Dehradun today. Governor of Uttrakhand Dr. Krishan Kant Paul, Chief Minister Shri Harish Rawat, Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent Charge) Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, the Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta and other dignitaries were also present.
The higher Himalayan and especially Kendarnath region of Uttarakhand were devastated by disaster due to incessant rainfall and cloud burst during June 2013. It had ruined the National Highways network in upper Himalayan region. The loss of human lives due to this disaster was very disheartening and affected the flow of pilgrims visiting from all over India to the Char Dham i.e Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath of Uttarakhand.
After analyzing the devastation, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways decided to upgrade the National highways network in upper Himalayan region by enhancing the safety of these roads and making them all weather roads. The preparation of detailed Project Report was undertaken with the help of seven expert consultancy firms. The finalized report prepared with meticulous efforts and participation of all stakeholders includes provisions like tunnels, bypasses/realignment, long bridges, viaducts, crash barriers etc to prevent traffic bottlenecks. A team of experts has been engaged to identify zones prone to landslides and environment friendly techniques are being incorporated in the design to make these zones safer.
The programme includes improving/developing 900 km of National Highways connecting Chardham in Uttarakhand at a total cost of Rs. 12000 crores for completion by the year 2020. This programme involves widening/construction of two-laned roads with paved shoulder, construction of 13 bypass/realignment, 2 tunnels, 3 viaducts, 25 major bridges, 107 minor bridges, crash barrier/parapet wall and 3889 culverts. In addition, 18 way side amenities , 154 bus stands and bays & truck lay byes for convenience of tourists and OFC duct along highway to facilitate the Digital India initiative would be provided under this programme. Work for 17 projects worth Rs 3000 crore has already been sanctioned and tendered.
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