To manage the growing influx of pilgrims and boost border tourism, the Uttarakhand government has announced significant infrastructure upgrades. A new footbridge will soon be constructed at the famous Kainchi Dham in Nainital district to facilitate the increasing number of devotees. Additionally, a festival ground will be established in the border village of Jadung (Uttarkashi district) under the Vibrant Village programme.
High-Level Review Meeting
These decisions were highlighted during a review meeting held at the Secretariat on Friday, chaired by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan. The meeting focused on the progress of development works at various state tourist and pilgrimage sites.
Key Directives Issued
Chief Secretary Bardhan reviewed the status of projects at Kainchi Dham, Jageshwar Dham, Mahasu Devta, Jadung, Mana, Niti and Timmarsain Mahadev. With a total budget of Rs 228 crore allocated for these developments, the following instructions were issued:
Expedited Completion: Officials were directed to speed up ongoing works at Kainchi Dham and Jadung. The Chief Secretary emphasized that the number of labourers should be increased if necessary to meet deadlines.
Project Monitoring: Continuous monitoring is required to ensure projects are completed within the scheduled time.
Timeline Charts: A detailed chart must be prepared for all projects, clearly outlining the start date and completion date for each stage.
Land Acquisition: The process of land transfer and acquisition for these projects must be expedited to prevent delays.
Officials Present
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Tourism Secretary Dheeraj Singh Garbyal, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal, and Additional Secretary Abhishek Ruhela.