Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Reviews National Highway Projects in Uttarakhand; CM Dhami Pushes Key Proposals

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting on National Highway projects of Uttarakhand at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in which Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami strongly advocated for the state’s proposed and ongoing road infrastructure projects.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister raised several important proposals related to national highways, including the Rishikesh Bypass, Almora–Danya–Panar–Ghat Road, Jyolikot–Khairna–Gairsain–Karnprayag Road, and Almora–Bageshwar–Kanda–Udiari Band Road, and requested early approvals and faster execution.

Key Project Proposals Discussed

The meeting revealed that the Rishikesh Bypass Project, a 12.67-km four-lane bypass from Teenpani to Kharasrot via Yoganagari on NH-7, has been proposed at an estimated cost of ₹1,161.27 crore. The project includes:

• 4.876 km elevated road for three elephant corridors
• 200-metre bridge over the Chandrabhaga River
• 76-metre ROB at the railway portal
• In addition, a 76-metre ROB at Shyampur railway crossing, costing ₹318 crore, has been proposed to ensure uninterrupted traffic from Nepali Farm to Rishikesh Nataraja Chowk.
• The Almora–Danya–Panar–Ghat Road (NH-309B), covering 76 km, is proposed to be widened to two lanes at a cost of ₹988 crore.
• The Jyolikot–Khairna–Gairsain–Karnprayag Road has been proposed for two-lane widening over a 235-km stretch under NH-109.
• The Almora–Bageshwar–Kanda–Udiari Band Road (NH-309A) is proposed to be completed under Packages 1, 2 and 5, covering 84.04 km at a total cost of ₹1,001.99 crore. The Government of India has already approved the forest land transfer for the Kanda–Bageshwar section (Package-2).

Uttarakhand’s Expanding Highway Network

Chief Minister Dhami stated that Uttarakhand has made significant progress in road infrastructure development, strengthening pilgrimage, tourism, industry, border security, disaster management, and the local economy.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the sustained efforts of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the state is rapidly developing a modern, safe, and future-ready road network.

The Chardham Highway Project, approved at a cost of ₹12,769 crore, aims to ensure safe and seamless pilgrimage access. Uttarakhand currently has a 3,723-km national highway network, of which 597 km are being developed by NHAI. So far, 336 km have been completed, while 193 km of projects worth over ₹15,890 crore are under construction.

These projects will improve connectivity to major religious, urban and industrial centres such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Haldwani and Kathgodam.

Major Corridors and Bypass Projects

Four-lane corridors like Kashipur–Sitarganj (77 km), Rudrapur–Kathgodam (50 km) and Haridwar–Nagina (67 km) have significantly improved access to industrial zones, agricultural markets and tourist destinations.

Under the Delhi–Dehradun Corridor, a six-lane access-controlled highway, around 30 km has been developed in the Ganeshpur–Dehradun section, including a tunnel and an 18-km elevated stretch, with an investment of over ₹1,995 crore.

Other major projects include:

• Dehradun Bypass – 12 km (₹716 crore)
• Haridwar Bypass – 15 km (₹1,603 crore)
• Banbasa ICP Connectivity (India-Nepal border) – 4 km (₹366 crore)
• The Rudrapur–Kashipur Bypass and Delhi–Dehradun Expressway from Haridwar are directly integrating Uttarakhand with the national expressway network.

Road Safety, Environment & Future Projects

Road safety measures such as black-spot improvement, access control, modern signage, and mountain road maintenance are being implemented statewide. Environment-friendly interventions including elevated roads, wildlife underpasses, and minimal land acquisition are being adopted, especially in sensitive zones like the Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

Future projects under preparation and DPR stages include:

• Mussoorie–Dehradun Connectivity (40 km, ₹4,000 crore)
• Haridwar–Haldwani High-Speed Corridor (197 km, ₹10,000 crore)
• Dehradun Ring Road
• Lalkuan–Haldwani–Kathgodam Bypass

Civil work on the Silkyara–Polgaon Tunnel is about 90% complete. The central wall construction is expected to finish within 5–6 months, followed by electrical and mechanical works, with completion targeted by March 2027.

Gadkari Assures Action

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured that appropriate action would be taken on the proposals submitted by the Chief Minister and directed officials to expedite ongoing projects while ensuring quality and adherence to timelines.