Garhwal Post Bureau
Srinagar (Pauri), 31 Oct: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today inaugurated and laid foundation stones for nine development projects worth Rs 9.13 crores at a programme held at Shriyanta Tapu in Srinagar. The CM was accorded a warm welcome from a large number of women, elderly residents and youth on his arrival in the town, with enthusiastic crowds gathering along the roads to greet him.
During the programme, Dhami flagged off the city bus service in Srinagar and distributed incentive assistance to women self-help groups under the ‘Sashakt Behna, Sashakt Uttarakhand’ initiative. He also distributed health and hygiene kits to 51 women sanitation workers.
In addition, the CM also handed over a cheque of Rs 2.01 lakhs to women associated with self-help groups (SHGs), stating that the initiative is aimed at strengthening livelihoods and promoting economic empowerment among women.
Addressing the gathering, Dhami said that development projects worth more than Rs 9 crores have been inaugurated and launched to accelerate Srinagar’s growth. He said these projects would play a significant role in expanding basic infrastructure, strengthening public facilities and giving fresh impetus to local development.
Paying tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, Dhami said that the Iron Man of India had laid the foundation of a united nation by integrating more than 560 princely states. He said Patel envisioned a strong India where national unity, integrity and sovereignty remained paramount and where national interest was the foremost duty of every citizen.
The CM added that the state government is continuously working with a commitment to place Uttarakhand on the path of development, good governance and prosperity. He noted that development projects worth crores of rupees are currently underway in Pauri district and said the steady increase in Char Dham Yatra footfall is directly benefiting local residents and businesses.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central and state governments have worked together to provide a new direction to Uttarakhand’s development. He further said the Char Dham shrines have been connected through the All Weather Road project and that Srinagar remains an important hub of this connectivity network. CM also noted that work on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line is progressing rapidly and that Srinagar would have a station on the route, enabling local residents to directly benefit from the ambitious railway project.
Fulfilling a long-pending demand of residents, Dhami also flagged off the city bus service in Srinagar, which has resumed after a gap of nearly nine years. He formally inaugurated the service by flagging off a bus carrying all municipal councillors.
The Chief Minister inaugurated an electric vehicle charging station in Srinagar as well. He said the facility would encourage the use of electric vehicles and promote environmentally friendly transportation in the town, describing it as an important step towards clean and green urban development.
Among the projects inaugurated and launched by the Chief Minister in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation area include a solid waste management and disposal facility, the late Ranjit Singh Bhandari Vatika (Rain Water Harvesting Park), road and drain construction works, Laxminarayan Park, beautification of parks and several other civic infrastructure projects. He said these initiatives would strengthen sanitation arrangements, support environmental conservation and improve urban amenities for residents.
During his visit, Dhami also interacted with school and college students. On noticing a group of students near the college gate, Dhami stepped out of his vehicle, departing briefly from the scheduled protocol, and engaged with them. He enquired about their well-being and interacted with them, while the students appeared delighted to meet him.
Cabinet Ministers Dhan Singh Rawat, Satpal Maharaj and Bharat Chaudhary, Mayor Aarti Bhandari, District Panchayat Chairperson Rachna Butola, District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria, CDO Ashok Joshi, the SDMs and several other officials and public representatives were present on the occasion.
