Lok Sabha Question No. 331 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-18
Subject: Char Dham All-weather Road Project
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Bhatt

be pleased to state :

- (a) the  funds  allocated  in  the  current  year  for  Char  Dham  allweather road project in Uttarakhand;
- (b) the total estimated cost of this project and the time by which it is likely to be completed;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  engage  Border  Roads Organisation  in  the  execution  of  this  project  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  decision  has  been  taken  on  the  demands  of  the State  Government  and  other  stakeholders  for  changes  in  the  route and inclusion of additional routes in this project; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

( SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI )

- ( a ) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House .

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 331 ANSWERED ON 18 TH MARCH, 2021

## CHAR DHAM ALL-WEATHER ROAD PROJECT

* 331. SHRI AJAY BHATT:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS ( a ) TO ( c ) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 331 FOR ANSWER ON 18.03 . 2021 ASKED  BY  SHRI  AJAY  BHATT  REGARDING  CHAR  DHAM  ALLWEATHER ROAD PROJECT.

(a)  &  (b)  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  (MoRT&H)  have taken up widening and improvement of 825 km (existing 889 km) of National Highways (NHs) for providing faster and safer road connectivity  from  Rishikesh  to  Janki  Chatti  (Yamunotri),  Gangotri, Gaurikhund (Kedarnath) and Mana (Badrinath) including Tanakpur to Pithoragarh  section  of  Kailash-Mansarovar  route  in  the  State  of Uttarakhand  at  a  estimated  cost  of  Rs.12072  crore.  In  the  current financial year, Rs.2000 crore has been allocated for development of NHs in the State of Uttarakhand, which includes expenditure being incurred  on  these  roads.  The  project  for  development  of  road connectivity  to  Char  Dham  was  initially  targeted  for  completion  by March,  2020.  However,  the  schedule  date  of  completion  of  the project has been delayed mainly due to litigation in the Hon'ble NGT and  Hon'ble  Supreme  court  by  the  petitioner,  namely,  Citizens  for Green  Doon.  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  vide  order  dated  08.08.2019 constituted a High Power Committee (HPC) and prescribed terms of reference  to  look  into  the  environmental  and  other  related  issues. The  HPC  submitted  its  recommendation  during  June,  2020  and December,  2020,  which  were  not  unanimous  due  to  differences  of opinion  among  the  members  regarding  the  width  of  the  road  being constructed. The matter is still subjudice in Hon'ble Supreme Court.

- (c) Yes  Sir.  Border  Roads  Organisation  has  been  engaged  for execution  of  NH-58  from  Helong  to  Mana  Village,  NH-94  from

## Agrakhal  to  Dharasu  and  NH-108  from  Dharasu  to  Gangotri  under

Char Dham. (d) & (e)  No request has been received from the State Government either for changes in the route or inclusion of additional routes in this project.

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