The Centre has approved a series of green-focused road and mobility projects in Uttarakhand.
The decisions came following a high-level meeting in New Delhi between state representatives and officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The meeting marks a significant moment in the ongoing push to balance ecological preservation with connectivity in one of India’s most ecologically sensitive and strategically important regions. The discussions centred around the growing transport burden on Uttarakhand’s fragile terrain, especially witnessed during the recent Char Dham Yatra season. Officials cited the surge in pilgrimage footfall as a driving force behind the state’s request for fast-tracked infrastructural support. The state is targeting improved mobility while maintaining environmental equilibrium, and the Centre has largely responded with affirmative commitments.
Among the most impactful decisions is the go-ahead for the construction of elevated corridors along the Bindal and Rispana rivers in Dehradun, spanning 26 km as part of the National Highway-07 loop. This project, which will operate within the framework of elevated greenways, is estimated to cost ₹6,164 crore. The state government will handle land acquisition and forest clearance processes, waiving off SGST and royalty charges to expedite execution. The remaining capital expenditure will be covered by the Union government, ensuring that fiscal and bureaucratic hurdles are minimised. This project not only aims to decongest central Dehradun but also establishes a model for future infrastructure initiatives in hilly cities facing urban sprawl and extreme weather vulnerabilities. Elevated roads, while expensive, provide flood resilience and reduce the need for extensive tree felling compared to surface-level highways. Experts believe this intervention could redefine urban mobility norms in river-rich Himalayan capitals.
In another key move, the Centre agreed to shoulder an additional ₹183 crore for the realignment of National Highway-109 (previously NH-87), necessitated by the expansion of Pantnagar Airport. This comes with a conditional exemption of the SGST component by the state. The altered alignment is being seen as a dual-purpose intervention—easing logistics bottlenecks near a critical regional air node and supporting Uttarakhand’s wider economic goals through enhanced multimodal connectivity. Also approved is the long-awaited construction of the Khatima Ring Road by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is expected to alleviate traffic congestion and reroute heavy vehicles away from populated zones. In tandem, greenlighting has been granted for the widening of two key highway segments—NH-507 from Barwala to Lakhwar Bend (km 12 to 40) and NH-534 from Dugadda to Gumkhal (km 157 to 175). Both projects are poised to strengthen regional access and economic integration between remote mountain towns and larger trading centres.
Equally pivotal is the forest clearance push for a 10.88 km alternative alignment of the Rishikesh Bypass—from Nepali Farm to Dhalwala—planned along the edge of the Rajaji National Park. The first leg of this bypass carries a proposed cost of ₹1,546 crore. Authorities committed to ensuring forest land transfer within the next three months, a move hailed by ecological planners as a rare instance where project timelines are being synchronised with environmental compliance, rather than postponed by them. On the high-altitude mobility front, the proposed Kedarnath Ropeway received a much-needed boost. The tendering process will soon begin under the aegis of the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), pending final consultation. The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time and carbon footprint for pilgrims, and aligns with India’s National Electric Mobility Mission.
The cumulative value of the newly sanctioned and fast-tracked projects is expected to catalyse over ₹10,000 crore in green and resilient infrastructure investment in Uttarakhand. While economic indicators highlight the projects’ potential to generate employment and tourism revenues, it is the strategic shift toward climate-sensitive engineering that marks a deeper transformation. Officials involved in the talks underscored the importance of Centre-State coordination in highland development. A key financial arrangement was the annual reimbursement of pending Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) dues to Uttarakhand on an accrual basis—ensuring liquidity for ongoing works and reducing project stalling risks.
Analysts note that these approvals come at a critical time for Uttarakhand, which is grappling with increasing climate uncertainties—landslides, glacial lake outbursts, and erratic weather patterns. Infrastructure in such regions needs to do more than move people and goods; it must also support community resilience and environmental sustainability. Transport planners and civil society groups have responded cautiously but positively. While welcoming the decisions, they have stressed the need for transparent implementation mechanisms, including impact assessments, grievance redressal, and community participation, especially in ecologically sensitive zones.
Moreover, these developments also hold implications for India’s broader push for carbon-neutral infrastructure, particularly in geographies where construction activities often clash with conservation imperatives. The current suite of approvals could serve as a replicable framework for other Himalayan and forested states seeking to fast-track connectivity while aligning with national sustainability commitments under the Paris Agreement. As groundwork begins on multiple fronts—from elevated corridors and bypass alignments to ropeways and ring roads—Uttarakhand finds itself on the cusp of an infrastructural transition. The challenge, however, will lie in execution that respects both engineering ambitions and ecological wisdom.
Ultimately, the vision is not merely of smoother roads but of smarter, greener journeys—where development uplifts, rather than overwhelms, the fragile natural systems that define the soul of the Himalayas.
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