The Union Minister of State for road, transport and national highways, General (Retd), VK Singh has said that the ambitious ‘All weather road project’ linking the char dhams of Uttarakhand would get completed before the Kumbh at Haridwar.

Addressing media persons at the Chief Minister’s residence here on Saturday, Gen Singh said that all the works associated with the Char Dhams of the ‘All weather road’ would be completed before the Haridwar Kumbh of year 2021.  He said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been directed to complete all the road cutting works before the commencement of the Yatra this year. Gen Singh said that the target to complete road works related to Char Dhams before the year 2021 is taken to ensure hassle free Yatra to the pilgrims visiting the state for Haridwar Kumbh. He said that the union government has kept the project on its priority and he himself is monitoring the works both on ground and aerially from last three days.  The minister said that the union government has received the interim report of the Supreme Court (SC) constituted committee for studying damage done to the environment by the project. He informed that under the project broadening of 646 km road network is to done and out of which cutting of 452 km is completed. The minister claimed that the cutting work of remaining 194 km would be completed before the commencement of the Yatra season this year. On question of the ban imposed by the SC on the stretch of 100 km road linking Uttarkashi to Gangotri which falls in the eco sensitive zone, Singh said that work there would start when the approval is received.

To prevent falling of the debris of road cutting into rivers, retaining walls are being constructed, he said.