Bridge-Tunnel Route Built at a Cost of ₹156 Crore Opens for Trial Traffic; Formal Inauguration Soon: Chief Minister
Linking Kedarnath and Badrinath National Highways to Ease Char Dham Yatra and Relieve Traffic Congestion in Rudraprayag
Chief Minister Appreciates ‘Donate a Book, Plant a Tree of Knowledge’ Campaign
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday inspected the bridge and tunnel project constructed in Rudraprayag under the Char Dham Road Project. During the visit, he received information about the project and said that it would be formally inaugurated soon. The Chief Minister also visited the Sangam Library, established under the district administration’s ‘Donate a Book, Plant a Tree of Knowledge’ campaign.
Under the Char Dham Road Project, a 200-metre-long bridge over the Alaknanda River and a 900.30-metre-long tunnel have been constructed in Rudraprayag at a cost of approximately ₹156 crore. The total length of the project, including the bridge, tunnel and connecting road, is around 1.18 kilometres. This important infrastructure project will directly connect the Kedarnath National Highway (NH-107) with the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07).
Trial traffic on the bridge-tunnel route began on Monday. The Chief Minister said that the project would be formally inaugurated soon. Once regular traffic begins on the route, pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath and Badrinath will no longer have to pass through Rudraprayag market. This will reduce traffic pressure in the town during the Char Dham Yatra and provide relief from congestion to local residents as well as pilgrims.
The Chief Minister said that making the Char Dham Yatra smoother, safer and better organised was a priority for the state government. Improved road connectivity and the development of modern infrastructure would not only provide greater convenience to devotees but also boost local businesses, tourism and employment opportunities.
During the visit, the Chief Minister also reviewed the slope protection and stabilisation works being carried out in landslide-prone areas along the Rudraprayag–Gaurikund National Highway. These measures aim to reduce the risks posed by landslides and make the pilgrimage route safer and more resilient.
The Chief Minister also visited the Sangam Library under the district administration’s ‘Donate a Book, Plant a Tree of Knowledge’ campaign and praised the innovative initiative. Launched at the initiative of District Magistrate Vishal Mishra, the campaign aims to develop students’ interest in reading, provide useful books for competitive examination preparation and enrich libraries.
The campaign has received encouraging support from public representatives, officials and citizens. The Sangam Library has received more than 2,500 books under the initiative. These include useful books on competitive examinations, general knowledge, literature and various other subjects. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also contributed to the campaign by donating 150 books.
The Chief Minister said that books play an important role in acquiring knowledge and shaping an individual’s personality. Book donation campaigns are particularly beneficial for students who need study materials to prepare for competitive examinations. He said that the initiative to enrich libraries with the support of society would encourage a culture of reading and learning among young people.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said that the books received through the campaign were being made available to students and readers. The initiative was proving particularly beneficial to young people preparing for competitive examinations. He added that efforts were being made to develop libraries into effective centres for study and knowledge enhancement through public participation.
Cabinet Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary; Vice-Chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Vijay Kaparwan; Vice-Chairman of the Border Area Monitoring Council Chandi Prasad Bhatt; Vice-Chairperson of the State Commission for Women Aishwarya Rawat; District Panchayat Chairperson Poonam Kathait; BJP District President Bharat Bhushan Bhatt; Girvar Singh Rawat; District Panchayat Members Jayvardhan Kandpal, Amit Kumar Maikhuri and Gambhir Singh Bisht; former BJP District President Mahavir Panwar; State Executive Committee Member Ajay Semwal; Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari; Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra; Chief Development Officer Rajendra Singh Rawat; Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sohan Singh Saini; and other public representatives and officials were present on the occasion.
