Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 12 Sep: With the rising influx of tourists and pilgrims every year, the Uttarakhand government has claimed to have intensified efforts to expand basic infrastructure and provide relief from traffic jams, particularly along the Char Dham routes. The government officials have asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Housing Department has completed 63 parking projects in ten hill districts, creating facilities with a combined capacity of 4,202 vehicles. This initiative has not only eased congestion for visitors but also made daily commuting smoother for local residents.
According to the officials, the government has placed special emphasis on developing parking facilities in major towns, pilgrimage centres and tourist destinations. Depending on the availability of space, surface, multi level and automated parking structures have been built. In Almora, parking facilities for 1,087 vehicles have been created, while Nainital has capacity for 679 vehicles. Champawat has 600, Uttarkashi 477, Pithoragarh 309, Rudraprayag 304, Pauri 256, Chamoli 201, Tehri 163 and Bageshwar 126.
In Nainital, the government is constructing a major parking facility in the Metropole Hotel complex, which will accommodate about 700 vehicles once completed, and it has claimed that this would address the long standing parking problem in the lake city. At the famous Kainchi Dham, a multi level parking facility is also being developed to cater to the growing number of devotees, with capacity for more than 500 vehicles at a time.
Housing and State Property Secretary R Rajesh Kumar shared that under the CM’s directions, the department has prioritised the development of parking facilities in hill districts. With the completion of 63 projects, the problem has been significantly reduced, providing relief to tourists, pilgrims and local citizens alike.
Commenting on the development, Dhami observed that Uttarakhand has become a preferred destination for tourists and pilgrims from across the country and abroad, with over six crore visitors arriving last year alone. In view of this, the government is continuously expanding facilities for travellers. To tackle traffic congestion, parking facilities are being developed at all major tourist centres and along the Char Dham routes. The Housing Department and other agencies are working in coordination to ensure smooth travel and better amenities.
