Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 12 Apr: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand is set to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 18th time during his tenure. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Uttarakhand again on Tuesday, marking his 27th visit to the state since assuming office.
During this visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway and also dedicate to the nation India’s first variable speed pumped storage plant of 1000 MW capacity in Tehri.
There is widespread enthusiasm among the people of Uttarakhand regarding the Prime Minister’s visit, and the state government is making extensive preparations to make the event a memorable one.
After becoming Prime Minister in May 2014, Narendra Modi first visited Uttarakhand on 11 September 2015, when he went to Dayanand Saraswati Ashram in Rishikesh to meet his spiritual Guru Swami Dayanand Giri.
The Prime Minister has deep spiritual faith in Uttarakhand’s major pilgrimage sites, including Kedarnath Temple. Since becoming Prime Minister, he has visited Kedarnath five times and has also visited Badrinath and Mukhba. His visits have significantly boosted religious tourism in the state.
Following natural disasters that affected the Kedarnath Yatra, the Prime Minister personally visited the shrine and reassured the nation about the safety of the Char Dham Yatra, leading to a sharp increase in pilgrim numbers.
Similarly, after his visit to Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh district, the region has seen a rise in pilgrims. His visit to Mukhba, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi, also promoted winter tourism and year-round travel in the state.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that Prime Minister Modi shares a deep emotional and developmental connection with Uttarakhand. Since 2014, projects worth over Rs 2 lakh crore have been approved and implemented in the state. Major infrastructure initiatives include the Char Dham All-Weather Road Project, Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Rail Project, Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib ropeways, and the Dehradun–Delhi elevated road.
Connectivity has significantly improved through rural road construction under PMGSY, as well as expansion in air and rail services and rapid progress in ropeway projects.
Key Features of Delhi–Dehradun Expressway
Passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand
Total length: 213 km
Cost: Rs 11,963 crore
Includes a 12 km long wildlife corridor (Asia’s longest)
2 elephant underpasses (200 metres each) and 6 animal crossings
370-meter tunnel near Datkali
6-lane access-controlled corridor
Multiple bridges, interchanges, and ROBs
Travel time between Delhi and Dehradun reduced to approximately 2.5 hours
Tehri Variable Speed Pumped Storage Plant
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate India’s first variable speed pumped storage plant in Tehri, with a total capacity of 1000 MW. Developed by THDC as part of the 2400 MW Tehri Hydro Power Complex, the project will generate additional electricity by utilising the upper and lower reservoirs.
This plant is expected to be a milestone in India’s energy journey, contributing significantly to sustainable power generation.
Overall, the Prime Minister’s visit is seen as a major boost to infrastructure, energy, tourism, and economic development in Uttarakhand.
