Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked officials to speed up key infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand, especially those under the Public Works Department. Chairing a review meeting at the Secretariat on July 22, Dhami directed urgent progress on the much-anticipated four-lane elevated roads over the Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun.
He also called for faster work on the Dehradun Ring Road/Bypass and the utility duct policy for the Asharodi to Mohkampur stretch. The Chief Minister emphasised that modern technology must be adopted in road construction, especially in hilly and landslide-prone regions. He specifically mentioned using geosynthetic retaining wall systems to make roads safer and longer-lasting in such areas.
Repair and reconstruction of old and damaged bridges should be prioritised, Dhami said. A continuous campaign is needed to keep roads pothole-free, he added.
The Chief Minister underlined the need to strengthen road connectivity within the state. He highlighted the importance of better connecting the Kedarkhand and Manaskhand regions. Dhami also called for a more effective plan to improve travel between Dehradun and Haldwani, and between Delhi and Haldwani, as well as other major cities.
To ease congestion between Mussoorie and Dehradun, he urged that alternative routes be developed quickly. He also directed officials to speed up asphalting works across the state.
During the meeting, Dr. Pankaj Pandey, Secretary of the Public Works Department, shared updates on several projects. He said feasibility and hydrological studies for the first phase of the elevated corridors—11 km on the Rispana river and 15 km on the Bindal river—have been completed.
The alignment of the Dehradun Ring Road has been finalised. A feasibility report and a diversion plan have been prepared after a joint inspection with Indian Railways. A similar feasibility study and geotechnical investigations have also been completed for the Dehradun–Mussoorie road connectivity project.