- By Sahelee Rakshit
- Wed, 05 Mar 2025 04:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Traffic management remains one of the biggest challenges in preparing for the Chardham Yatra. As the number of devotees increases, the Rishikesh area—serving as the entry point to the yatra—becomes heavily congested, causing severe traffic jams that also affect local residents.
To address this issue, a proposed 11 km-long elevated road from Nepali Farm to Dhalwala aims to alleviate congestion during peak travel times. The project recently achieved an important milestone: in November, its Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to the regional office of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Dehradun. The DPR is now with the central government, awaiting approval from the Standing Financial Committee (SFC).
Navneet Pandey, Executive Engineer of the Dhalwala National Highway Section and the implementing agency, stated that a meeting of the SFC is scheduled to take place soon. Experts from various fields will participate, and all aspects of the project will be thoroughly discussed. Preparations for the meeting have already been completed.
During the meeting, a presentation will be made to the central committee outlining the project's utility and feasibility. Once the committee gives its approval, the DPR will be finalised. According to the Executive Engineer, the estimated budget for the elevated road project is approximately Rs 1,485 crore.
Pandey mentioned that the project will be extended beyond Dhalwala to help alleviate traffic congestion across the entire Rishikesh area during the Chardham Yatra and Kanwar Yatra. This extension will benefit both pilgrims and local residents.
The next phase of the project will span from Dhalwala to Garudachatti near Tapovan, covering a total length of seven kilometres. This section will also include the construction of two tunnels. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this phase is currently being finalised.
