New Delhi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Thursday, urging expedited approval for several vital road and infrastructure projects in the state. Highlighting the sharp rise in tourist traffic during the Chardham Yatra, Dhami emphasized the urgent need to boost road capacity, improve maintenance, and prioritize strategic infrastructure to enhance regional connectivity, tourism, and economic growth.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister sought early reimbursement of ₹367.69 crore under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund. He also pressed for approval of the Rishikesh Bypass Project and the declaration of a 33-km stretch from Biharigarh to Roshnabad as a National Highway.
Further, Dhami proposed National Highway status for the 189-km-long Kathgodam–Pancheshwar route and urged approval for an elevated road over the Bindal and Rispana rivers in Dehradun as a loop of NH-07 to ease traffic congestion.
He also requested ₹1,000 crore for the first phase of the ₹8,000 crore Manaskhand Project, aimed at upgrading 20 roads (totaling 508 km) connected to mythological temples. Additionally, he called for approval of the revised ₹1,000 crore cost for the NH-109 bypass realignment in Khatima and the Pantnagar Airport expansion.
The CM further sought ₹371.84 crore, along with an additional ₹110 crore, for the proposed metro corridor on NH-07. He requested speedy approval for the widening of the Barwala–Lakhwar Band stretch (28 km) on NH-507 and the Dugadda–Gumkhal stretch (18.10 km) on NH-534.
Union Minister Gadkari assured the Chief Minister of positive consideration on all proposals. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Road Transport Ajay Tamta, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, and Resident Commissioner Ajay Mishra.
