Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan Reviews Progress of Kedarnath Redevelopment and Badrinath Master Plan, Directs Time-Bound Completion
Dehradun:
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan chaired a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday to assess the progress of the Kedarnath Reconstruction and Redevelopment Project and the Badrinath Master Plan. During the meeting, he conducted a detailed review of the physical and financial progress of ongoing works and directed officials to ensure that all projects are completed within the stipulated timelines while maintaining the highest quality standards.
Reviewing the Kedarnath redevelopment works, the Chief Secretary sought detailed updates on each component of the project, including its physical and financial status as well as the scheduled completion dates. He instructed officials to commence construction of the six pending blocks at Kedarnath immediately and emphasized continuous monitoring of every project to ensure timely execution.
Highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability, the Chief Secretary directed the District Magistrate of Rudraprayag to prepare a comprehensive and integrated solid waste management plan for the Kedarnath pilgrimage route and temple area. He stressed that proper arrangements must be made for the collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of waste generated during the annual pilgrimage to maintain cleanliness and protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
He assured the district administration that the State Government would provide all necessary financial, technical, and administrative support required for the effective implementation of the plan.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the progress of Phase I and Phase II of the Badrinath Master Plan. He examined the physical and financial progress of each project and instructed officials to accelerate the pace of work in accordance with the prescribed timelines.
He further directed that all content development, artistic installations, interpretation elements, and artwork incorporated into the project should be executed simultaneously with the civil construction works to ensure seamless completion of the entire project.
Emphasizing long-term sustainability, the Chief Secretary instructed district administrations to prepare a comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) framework for all assets and public facilities being developed at Kedarnath and Badrinath.
He said that the agencies responsible for operating and maintaining these facilities should be identified in advance so that responsibilities are clearly defined once the projects are handed over, ensuring uninterrupted management and upkeep.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to strengthening pilgrimage infrastructure, the Chief Secretary directed all departments to closely monitor project implementation and ensure that no compromise is made on construction quality. He emphasized that coordinated efforts among all stakeholders are essential to provide pilgrims with safe, well-managed, and modern facilities at both Himalayan shrines.
The review meeting was attended by Secretary Dheeraj Garbyal, Additional Secretary Vineet Kumar, senior officials from the concerned departments, and District Magistrates of the respective districts, both in person and through virtual participation.
