Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 28 MAR: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday called on Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss the strengthening of rail connectivity in Uttarakhand and requested expedited action on various critical projects. Expressing gratitude on behalf of the people of the state for the continuous support provided by the Central Government and the Ministry of Railways, the Chief Secretary highlighted that Uttarakhand holds immense strategic, geographical, spiritual, and cultural significance. Referring to the successful operation of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi and Meerut, which has saved time and fuel for commuters, the CM emphasised the need to extend the RRTS to Haridwar and Rishikesh to alleviate the increasing traffic pressure on these pilgrimage and tourist hubs.
Regarding the progress of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, the CM requested that the first phase be completed and inaugurated by 2026. For the development of the Kumaon region, he sought the approval of the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line as a project of national importance and requested permission for the Final Location Survey (FLS) of the Bageshwar-Karnaprayag rail link. He also made additional requests for the doubling of the Haridwar-Dehradun rail line, the development of the Raiwala bye-duct bridge, and the prompt completion and approval of FLS for the Doiwala-Uttarkashi and Karnaprayag-Pipalkoti sections under the Char Dham rail project. Furthermore, he urged for the prioritised approval of the Mohand-Dehradun-Saharanpur rail line project, asserting that these initiatives are vital for the balanced and holistic development of the state.
During the meeting, the CM informed the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology about the state’s extensive preparations to host a grand and divine Kumbh 2027. He stated that the government aims to develop the upcoming event as a Digital Kumbh, incorporating advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance devotee safety, information dissemination, crowd management, traffic control, and disaster mitigation. A proposal seeking financial assistance of Rs 143.96 crore for the Digital Kumbh project has already been submitted to the Union Ministry of Information Technology, and the Chief Minister requested swift processing of the fund. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw assured the CM of positive action regarding the proposals presented for the development of the state.
