Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Mar: Preparations are underway by the Public Works Department and the National Highways Wing to ensure maintenance and repair of roads along the Char Dham Yatra route, including alternative routes. Officials have been directed to complete all road repair works by April 15.
Providing this information, the state’s PWD, Tourism, Religious Affairs, Culture, and Irrigation Minister, Satpal Maharaj, stated that the target is to complete all road-related works on the Char Dham route by April 15. In periodic review meetings, officials have been instructed to address identified shortcomings. Road construction and repair work have already been completed at several locations.
A total of 207 landslide-prone zones have been identified, out of which slope treatment has been completed at 88 locations, while work is nearing completion at 119 sites. The Yamunotri and Kedarnath routes have been identified as the most sensitive.
On the Rishikesh–Badrinath NH-7, work is progressing on a war footing in 22 out of 45 identified danger zones. On the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, arrangements related to roads, water, sanitation, healthcare, and traffic management are being strengthened. The All-Weather Road project is nearly complete.
The PWD is working to make roads pothole-free, complete slope treatments at the remaining 119 sites, and ensure that all alternative routes remain operational by April 15.
Satpal Maharaj further stated that installation of QR codes and signboards along the route is in progress to provide real-time information to pilgrims. WhatsApp alerts will also be used to instantly inform travellers about traffic jams, crowd conditions, or emergencies.
Officials have been instructed to pre-position machinery and necessary resources along the route. Multiple alternative routes—including those under NH-07 (Rishikesh–Rudraprayag), NH-707A, NH-107, NH-134, and NH-507—have been repaired and kept ready to ensure smooth traffic flow in case of blockages on the main routes.
Additionally, infrastructure improvements such as new tunnels and bypasses are progressing. The breakthrough of the Silkyara Tunnel has been achieved, and a 900-metre tunnel connecting the Badrinath–Kedarnath highway has been completed.
