Uttarakhand Chief Minister Meets Prime Minister in New Delhi
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, engaging in a comprehensive discussion about the state's development trajectory. According to the Chief Minister's Office, the meeting focused on acknowledging central government support and outlining future initiatives to propel Uttarakhand's growth.
Expressing Gratitude and Extending Invitation
During the meeting, Chief Minister Dhami expressed sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the continuous support and guidance provided by the Central Government toward Uttarakhand's development. He emphasized that this collaboration has enabled the state to achieve significant milestones across various sectors. The Chief Minister formally extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Uttarakhand, presenting traditional gifts including a replica of Shaktipeeth Maa Surkanda Devi, Badri cow ghee, five varieties of rajma from different districts, and locally sourced honey.
Key Approvals and Infrastructure Projects
CM Dhami highlighted several crucial approvals and projects that have received central government backing:
- Approval of Rs 500 crore assistance for Haridwar Kumbh-2027 preparations
- Initiation of a feasibility study under the river-linking project by the National Water Development Agency
- Sanction of Rs 100 crore for development of Chauraasi Kutiya in Rajaji National Park
- Signing of an MoU for the Naini-Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh
- Support for safe helicopter services during the Char Dham Yatra
- Approvals for undergrounding electric lines in Rishikesh, Champawat bypass, Dehradun Ring Road, and Dehradun-Mussoorie Road
Tourism Development Initiatives
The Chief Minister provided detailed information about tourism development efforts, highlighting the state's ambition to become a global wedding destination. Locations such as Chopta, Duggalbitta, Patwadangar, and the Sharda Corridor are being developed specifically for this purpose, while Ramnagar, Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Triyuginarayan have already gained popularity as wedding venues. A dedicated wedding destination policy is currently being formulated to streamline this initiative.
Additionally, regions including Bel Kedar, Anjanisain-Tehri, and Lohaghat-Shyamlatal have been identified as Spiritual Economic Zones to promote religious tourism. The introduction of winter pilgrimage programs has significantly increased devotee numbers, with pilgrim visits to Adi Kailash surging from 1,761 in 2022 to 36,453 in 2025, supported by newly launched helicopter services.
The state is also actively promoting adventure tourism activities such as river rafting, paragliding, and kayaking. Under the "Vocal for Local" initiative, local products are being promoted globally through the House of Himalayas brand, creating new market opportunities for Uttarakhand's artisans and producers.
Connectivity and Infrastructure Proposals
CM Dhami presented several connectivity and infrastructure proposals to the Prime Minister:
- Extension of the Regional Rapid Transit System from Meerut to Haridwar and Rishikesh
- Policy support for establishing defence equipment manufacturing units in strategic locations
- Proposals for defence industrial hubs in Kotdwar, Haridwar, and Dehradun
- Development of a BI-Duck bridge in Raiwala and expansion of Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarkashi
- Introduction of seaplane services in Tehri Lake
- Construction of Delhi-Haldwani Expressway to improve connectivity to industrial areas and tourist destinations
Rail Connectivity Enhancements
Emphasizing the importance of rail connectivity, the Chief Minister urged early inauguration of the Rishikesh-Vyasi section under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project. He also requested construction of a road-cum-rail tunnel in the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line, survey for the Bageshwar-Karnaprayag rail line, and doubling of the Haridwar-Dehradun rail track. A new Rishikesh-Uttarkashi rail line was proposed to improve connectivity to Gangotri and Yamunotri while strengthening supply chains for local products.
Invitation for Project Inaugurations
The Chief Minister invited Prime Minister Modi to Uttarakhand for inaugurations and foundation-laying ceremonies of key projects. Proposed inaugurations include the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and Tehri Pumped Storage Plant, while foundation stones are planned for the Pantnagar Airport expansion and Banbasa Land Port project. The Banbasa Land Port, located on the India-Nepal border, is expected to enhance trade, connectivity, and regional cooperation while strengthening international connectivity via the Asian Highway network.
State Government Reforms and Initiatives
CM Dhami highlighted several key reforms and initiatives implemented by the state government:
- Registration of over 6,000 homestays under the homestay scheme
- Launch of "Uttarastays," the country's first free marketing portal for homestays
- Establishment of Centers of Excellence for apple, cherry, plum, and pear cultivation in Chaubatia, Almora
- Implementation of the Vibrant Village Programme to develop border villages through promotion of local culture, cuisine, and handicrafts
- Introduction of the "Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme" for rural livelihood generation
- Support for thousands of entrepreneurs through the "Chief Minister Entrepreneurship Scheme"
- Creation of a unified digital database of families under the "Devbhoomi Parivar Scheme" for transparent delivery of government benefits
- Implementation of "Agniveer Reservation Rules-2025" providing 10% reservation in state services for former Agniveers
- Simplification of processes through the "Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas Bill-2026," which amended various laws and repealed over 500 outdated regulations
The Chief Minister emphasized that major reforms have been undertaken in industrial, labour, mining, revenue, and urban development sectors to significantly improve ease of doing business in Uttarakhand, creating a more favorable environment for investment and economic growth.
