Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Jul: A high-level review meeting of the Executive Committee of the Uttarakhand Industrial Investment and Development Board (UIIDB) was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan. The meeting focused on the comprehensive development of Haridwar city under the proposed Haridwar Ganga Corridor Project, with special emphasis on preparations for the forthcoming Kumbh Mela in 2027.
A detailed presentation was made on various infrastructure and development projects aimed at improving urban mobility, public amenities, religious tourism infrastructure, and city beautification. These projects are being coordinated by UIIDB under the aegis of the Department of Planning.
Key Project Components discussed were Integrated Mobility Plan for Haridwar city; Beautification and sanitation drives; Solid Waste Management solutions; Development of pilgrim-friendly access routes; Traffic and transport improvement; Crowd management strategies; Public facility enhancement; Cultural hub development; Creation of additional parking infrastructure; Development of Sati Kund; Geometric improvements of 10 key traffic junctions; Multi-modal tourism promotion activities; Installation of CCTV cameras and public addressing systems; Infrastructure development around key temples: Chandi Devi, Mansa Devi, Maya Devi, Bilkeshwar, among others.
The Chief Secretary also directed officials to prepare a dedicated Pedestrian Circuit Plan connecting prominent religious landmarks of Haridwar, including Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi, Maya Devi, Daksh Mandir, Bharat Mata Mandir, and Dakshineshwar Kali Temple. He emphasised that the footpaths should be designed to ensure uninterrupted, one-way movement of pilgrims with integrated safety and emergency arrangements.
The departments concerned and stakeholders—including the Kumbh Mela administration, local authorities, and urban development bodies—have been directed to submit a coordinated proposal within 15 days.
Noting that Har Ki Pauri remains one of the most congested areas during the Kumbh, the Chief Secretary instructed the Mela Officer, Police Department, and district administration to design a structured entry and exit management plan to ensure smooth and safe movement of pilgrims, particularly at the Aarti point.
Regarding execution of development projects near Forest Areas, it was emphasised that development works in and around forest-adjacent zones, especially those falling under or near the jurisdiction of Rajaji National Park, will be executed by the Rajaji Park Administration as the designated implementing agency. This step aims to ensure timely and regulated execution of projects in ecologically sensitive areas.
The Chief Secretary directed that the following sectors be treated with topmost priority: Solid waste management; Sanitation; Parking infrastructure; Emergency preparedness for crowd and security management; and Stakeholder Coordination.
Emphasising inclusive development, the Chief Secretary advised officials to involve relevant local bodies, religious trusts, the Ganga Sabha, and elected representatives wherever necessary, to ensure that development works are executed in a participatory and coordinated manner.
A joint site inspection of Haridwar city has also been proposed, involving all stakeholder departments, to identify gaps and finalise provisions to be incorporated into the final development plan.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretaries LL Fanai and R Meenakshi Sundaram; Secretaries Nitesh Kumar Jha, Dilip Jawalkar, and Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey; Special Secretary Ajay Mishra; Kumbh Mela Officer Sonika; and other senior officials from departments concerned.
