Highway project initiatives for Himalayan region

In the Himalayan region, national highway projects are undertaken with consideration for strategic and traffic needs.

Before beginning any development work on National Highways in the Himalayan region, a detailed project report is developed once the geological, geotechnical, hydrological, and topographical aspects of the terrain have been assessed.

The Chardham project entails the renovation of five current National Highways (NHs), which together span over 825 km and connect the Chardham pilgrimage sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, as well as the Tanakpur to Pithoragarh segment of the Kailas-Mansarovar yatra. 606 km of the 825 km total length have already been finished.

A High Powered Committee (HPC) was established in August 2019 by MoEF&CC at the behest of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The PC is made up of representatives from several esteemed institutions, including the Wildlife Institute of India, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the Central Soil Conservation Research Institute, the National Institute of Disaster Management, and the Forest Research Institute, among others. Its mandate is to assess the independent and cumulative effects of the Chardham Projects on the entire Himalayan Valleys and provide guidance regarding environmental impacts. Furthermore, the Honourable Supreme Court has established an “Oversight Committee” to guarantee the execution of the suggestions provided in the report of the previously mentioned HPC, particularly concerning the important routes of Rishikesh-Mana, Rishikesh-Gangotri, and Tanakpur-Pithoragarh. The committees hold regular meetings and implement their suggestions as the work is done.

In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, provided this information.

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