Dehradun: Uttarakhand: Char Dham: All weather road: After successfully implementing the All-Weather Road project on the main Char Dham pilgrimage routes, the Uttarakhand government is now planning to develop the auxiliary roads connected to the Char Dham Yatra on similar lines. A formal proposal in this regard has been sent to the Central Government. The state believes that strengthening these roads will not only make the pilgrimage smoother but will also play a crucial role in saving lives during natural disasters.
PWD Takes the Lead on the Initiative
The initiative is being pursued through the Public Works Department (PWD). The state government aims to improve overall connectivity, safety, and mobility for both pilgrims and local residents. By including auxiliary roads under the All-Weather Road project, the government seeks to ensure uninterrupted access throughout the year, even during adverse weather conditions.
Proposal Sent to Union Minister
Uttarakhand’s Public Works Minister, Satpal Maharaj, has written a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, submitting the proposal. He highlighted that under the Char Dham Highway Development Project, the main roads connecting Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri have already been upgraded to double-lane highways.
Satpal Maharaj emphasized that the importance of auxiliary roads used during the Char Dham Yatra is no less than that of the main routes. These roads often serve as alternative passages and become lifelines during emergencies, landslides, or road blockages.
Key Role During the 2013 Disaster
In his letter, the minister recalled the devastating 2013 disaster, during which several main routes were severely damaged. At that time, auxiliary roads played a vital role in rescuing hundreds of stranded pilgrims and locals. Developing these roads as all-weather routes will significantly strengthen disaster preparedness and response in the future.
The proposal includes several important auxiliary road stretches, such as:
- Uttarkashi – Lambgaon – Chamiyaala – Ghansali – Mayali – Guptkashi
- Kamand – Dobrachanthi – Kotikaloni – Paukhal – Maletha
- Kund – Chopta – Gopeshwar – Chamoli
- Kotdwar – Satpuli – Pauri – Srinagar
Widening and Improvement Works Already Underway
The Public Works Minister stated that widening and improvement work on some auxiliary roads has already begun. Once these roads are upgraded to double lanes, they will provide safer and more comfortable long-distance travel for pilgrims as well as local residents.
The Uttarakhand government believes that this initiative will make religious tourism in the state safer, smoother, and more reliable. After receiving approval from the Central Government, development work on these roads will be expedited, further strengthening the Char Dham Yatra infrastructure.
