Ropeway Projects Must Show Visible Progress on Ground by November 9: CM Dhami
Chief Minister Expresses Concern Over Slow Progress, Directs Agencies to Submit Status Report Within 15 Days
Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed displeasure over the slow progress of various proposed and ongoing ropeway projects in Uttarakhand and directed the executing agencies to accelerate the pace of work. He made it clear that visible progress on the ground must be evident in these projects by November 9, the State Foundation Day.
The Chief Minister issued the directions while reviewing the progress of various ropeway projects at his official residence on Monday. He instructed all concerned executing agencies to submit a detailed project-wise progress report to the Chief Secretary within 15 days.
The report should clearly indicate the progress achieved so far, pending procedures, bottlenecks being faced and the steps being taken to resolve them. CM Dhami said he would soon conduct another review of the projects and personally monitor their progress.
District Magistrates Asked to Monitor Projects Regularly
The Chief Minister directed the concerned District Magistrates to regularly monitor proposed and under-construction ropeway projects in their respective districts. He asked them to maintain continuous coordination with the executing agencies so that issues affecting implementation can be resolved promptly.
He directed officials to identify pending matters related to land acquisition, forest land transfer, departmental approvals, technical clearances and other procedural requirements and ensure their speedy resolution through coordination among the concerned departments and executing agencies.
Cases requiring decisions at higher levels should be immediately brought to the government’s notice, he said.
Ropeway Projects in Uttarakhand
Ropeway Connectivity Crucial for Uttarakhand
CM Dhami said ropeway connectivity is particularly important for Uttarakhand considering the state’s challenging geographical conditions. Ropeways can provide easier access to major religious and tourist destinations while also helping reduce traffic pressure on roads.
He said ropeway projects would not only strengthen connectivity but also contribute to the expansion of tourism activities and create new employment and self-employment opportunities at the local level.
Kedarnath Ropeway Project & Hemkund Sahib Ropeway Project
Speed Up Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib Ropeway Projects
The meeting included a detailed review of ropeway projects being undertaken by the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), Uttarakhand Metro Rail, Urban Infrastructure and Building Construction Corporation (UKMRC) and the Tourism Department.
According to the presentation made during the meeting, the first phase includes 11 proposed ropeway projects of NHLML, while the second phase comprises six additional proposed projects, besides projects associated with UKMRC.
The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib ropeway projects and directed officials to expedite all related procedures.
As per the presentation, the Kedarnath ropeway project will have a length of 12.90 km, while the Hemkund Sahib ropeway project will cover 12.40 km.
CM Dhami said both projects are of immense religious significance and their completion will make travel more convenient and accessible for pilgrims visiting these important destinations.
Nainital Ropeway Project & Dehradun Mussoorie Ropeway
Focus on Nainital and Dehradun-Mussoorie Ropeways
The Chief Minister directed officials to accelerate work related to the Nainital ropeway project. He said Nainital is one of Uttarakhand’s major tourism destinations and better transportation facilities are essential to meet the growing number of visitors.
A ropeway system can provide an alternative mode of transportation while helping reduce traffic congestion in the popular hill town, he said.
CM Dhami also reviewed the progress of the Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway project and directed officials to expedite all pending work.
He said the Dehradun-Mussoorie road experiences heavy traffic, particularly during the peak tourist season. The ropeway can provide tourists with an alternative and convenient mode of transport while reducing pressure on the road network.
Yamunotri, Purnagiri and Kunjapuri Projects Also Reviewed
The Chief Minister also reviewed the status of other proposed ropeway projects, including those at Yamunotri, Purnagiri and Kunjapuri.
He directed officials to complete pending procedures on priority and ensure that matters related to land, forest land and departmental approvals are resolved without unnecessary delay.
The concerned District Magistrates were asked to establish effective coordination with the relevant departments and executing agencies to remove bottlenecks and accelerate implementation.
The meeting also discussed the proposed Integrated Ropeway Project in Haridwar and the Triveni Ghat-Neelkanth Ropeway Project.
Safety and Environmental Balance Must Remain a Priority
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that ropeway projects are implemented with due consideration to passenger safety, environmental sustainability and future requirements.
He emphasized that while projects must be completed within the stipulated timelines, there should be no compromise on quality, technical standards or safety norms.
CM Dhami reiterated that progress on ropeway projects should not remain confined to meetings, proposals and paperwork. Visible work must be seen on the ground by November 9.
He directed all concerned departments, District Magistrates and executing agencies to work in close coordination, resolve pending issues swiftly and ensure timely implementation of the projects.
The Chief Minister said the progress reports to be submitted by the executing agencies to the Chief Secretary within 15 days would form the basis for the next review of the projects and further directions.
Vice Chairman of the Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vishwas Dabar, Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Dheeraj Garbyal, officials of various executing agencies and other concerned officials attending virtually were present at the meeting.
