Uttarakhand: Centre Sanctions Rs 3,500 Crore For Two Key NH Projects, Will Improve Connectivity To Rishikesh And Western Uttar Pradesh

The centre has sanctioned Rs 3,500 crore for two major National Highway (NH) projects in Uttarakhand which will enhance intra-state connectivity in the hilly state.

These projects include four-laning of the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh road and the upgradation of the Bareilly-Sitarganj highway.

Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh Highway

The Bhaniyawala-Jollygrant-Rishikesh is a spur section of NH 7 (Old NH 24) in Dehradun. The 20.5-km-long road connects the Jolly Grant Airport with the state capital and the key tourist destination Rishikesh.

With a maximum capacity of 17,000 Passenger Car Unit (PCU), the current two-lane stretch has been a major roadblock for the state.

The four-laning of this stretch will be carried under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,036.23 crore.

Bareilly-Sitarganj Highway

The Bareilly-Sitarganj route is an important one linking Kumaon with western Uttar Pradesh.

The road starts at Mundiyan Ahmad Nagar, in Bareilly and terminates at Pandri near Sitarganj, in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon be improving and upgrading NH 74 (new NH 30) stretch from Bareilly to Sitarganj under Bharatmala Pariyojana package 2.

The 64.76-km national highway connecting Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh sees heavy traffic movement throughout the day and is the key reason why it has been decided to convert it into a four-lane carriageway.

Work on this significant economic corridor is expected to start in March 2023 and will be completed by 2025.