Centre must repair Char Dham routes on priority, says CM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 3

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has said as Uttarakhand is a disaster-prone state and the Char Dham Yatra is going on, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways should repair the yatra routes and national highways on priority. He said landslide-prone areas should be given attention.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function here today where officials of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways gave a presentation on the Char Dham Yatra routes. Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti was present on the occasion. A detailed presentation on a proposed two-lane road, repair works and other options regarding the Char Ddham Yatra routes was given.

The Chief Minister requested the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister to work on both long and short term plans for the Char Dham Yatra routes, which were badly damaged during the 2013 natural disaster.

He said alternatives of tunnels, alleviated roads, and bypasses should be considered to improve the condition of the yatra routes and the work be started at the earliest. The work of broadening the yatra routes to two lanes instead of four lanes should be started immediately considering the forthcoming Ardh Kumbh mela, so that the road to Haridwar city is completed soon.

Harish Rawat said the Roshnabad-Biharigarh highway be included in the national highway category and the work on the Sonparyag to Gaurikund route be done on priority.

He said a specific plan be drafted for the Joshimath to Badrinath road and a single lane road be constructed from Sonparyag to Gaurikund. He emphasised on the Union Road Transport and Highway Ministry taking into consideration interests of local people while drafting a working plan.

He said local industries, tourism and agriculture activities should not be affected by any proposed road projects and protection walls be constructed on the Rishikesh to Badrinath National Highway where landslips occur on a large scale.