New Year 2026: Tourist Safety, Convenience and Law & Order Top Priority in Uttarakhand
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Issues Strict Instructions to Officials
DEHRADUN: With the New Year 2026 approaching, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has issued clear and strict instructions to ensure the safety, convenience, smooth traffic movement, and effective law and order across the state. The Chief Minister emphasized that while maintaining strict security, tourists and the general public must not be unnecessarily harassed in the name of checking.
These directions were issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Secretariat to assess arrangements for traffic management, tourist facilities, law and order, and winter travel management from December 30, 2025 to January 5, 2026.
Special Focus on Traffic Management and Law Enforcement
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure robust traffic management at major tourist destinations, high-traffic routes, and crowded areas during the New Year period. He instructed the police to conduct regular night patrols, while senior police officers were asked to carry out frequent field inspections to strengthen law and order and traffic arrangements.
The Chief Minister made it clear that strict action must be taken against elements disturbing law and order, and that offenders involved in drunken driving, overspeeding, and reckless driving should be dealt with firmly. He also directed enhanced security arrangements around liquor outlets.
Zero Tolerance Towards Crime and Encroachment
Reiterating the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime, Chief Minister Dhami stated that no individual indulging in criminal activities in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand would be spared. He instructed that adequate security arrangements be made at all major tourist spots, crowded markets, and public places.
Taking serious note of encroachment issues, especially in Dehradun, the Chief Minister directed the district administration, municipal corporations, police, transport department, and MDDA to form joint task forces and conduct continuous drives to remove illegal encroachments from roads. Similar action was ordered in other districts facing encroachment problems.
Fire Safety and Emergency Response
The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure fire safety compliance and essential safety arrangements in hotels, resorts, and commercial establishments located in crowded areas. He emphasized that in the event of any emergency, police response time should not exceed five minutes.
Winter Travel, Cleanliness and Plastic-Free Campaign
In view of the ongoing winter pilgrimage and tourist season, the Chief Minister instructed that all arrangements related to winter travel be maintained smoothly. He emphasized the strengthening of tourist information centers, adequate street lighting, and sufficient arrangements for bonfires (heating facilities) at public places to safeguard people from cold weather.
He also laid special emphasis on cleanliness and plastic-free Uttarakhand, directing officials to run intensive awareness campaigns with the active participation of social, religious, political organizations and the general public.
Senior Officials Present in the Meeting
The meeting was attended by Vice Chairman of Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vishwas Dabar, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Garhwal Commissioner and Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal, Additional Director General of Police V. Murugesan, IG Garhwal Rajeev Swaroop, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal, along with other senior officials from the state administration and police department.
IG Kumaon Riddhim Aggarwal, all District Magistrates, Senior Superintendents of Police, and Superintendents of Police participated in the meeting through virtual mode.
