Badrinath Building Height Dispute: Administration Denies Request To Raise Limit To 15 Metres

The administration has refused to increase the building height limit in Badrinath from 6.5 metres to 15 metres, despite repeated demands from local hoteliers and residents. The debate comes amid ongoing concerns about construction safety in hilly areas and river mouths across the state.

Housing Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram held discussions with representatives of various local groups who have been staging sit-in protests over the Badrinath master plan for the past month. While the administration addressed some legitimate demands, it remained firm on the building height restrictions, citing safety concerns at high altitudes.

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The hoteliers argue that permission should be granted for 15-metre-high buildings, claiming that other hill stations such as Mussoorie (11 metres) and Nainital (7.5 metres) allow taller structures. However, Sundaram clarified that Badrinath, situated at 10,279 feet above sea level, is not suitable for taller constructions. 

The administration highlighted that after the Kedarnath disaster, building heights in the Char Dham shrines were reduced from 8.5 metres to 6.5 metres as a precautionary measure.

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Local hoteliers also requested that stilt parking be excluded from building height calculations. The Housing Department said the matter will be examined, but reiterated that the special height rule applies to the 85-hectare Char Dham zone for safety reasons. Outside this perimeter, different height regulations are in place, but the demand to double the allowed height within the zone remains firmly rejected by authorities.