Since the creation of Uttarakhand state, never was more than Rs 200 crore released for reconstruction of roads whereas about Rs 630 crore was released for this task in nearly four years by the current state government.

Stating this, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the State government has laid special focus on basic facilities like roads, electricity, water and health services. The state government is striving to ensure work with honesty and transparency even as some tough decisions have also been taken in the interests of society and the state. Rawat said this after inaugurating schemes worth Rs 35 crore and unveiling the foundation stones for schemes worth Rs 35 crore in the Laltappad area of Doiwala assembly constituency on Sunday. The works which were inaugurated include Chandi Plantation Gurudwara motor road built at a cost of Rs 2.73 crore and internal village road connectivity works costing Rs 18 crore in various Gram Sabhas of Athurwala cluster.

The CM said that well organised financial management ensured that despite difficult conditions caused by Covid-19, the development works were not affected. Stating that roads and bridges are vital for development, he said that Rs 350 crore has been arranged for construction of 125 bridges. While the Suryadhar lake has been recently prepared, the foundation for the Song dam project will also be laid soon. He said, “Despite Covid, the State government has released cent per cent budget to the departments. Special focus has been laid on health services. While there were 1,024 doctors in Uttarakhand during 2017, now there are 2,400 doctors while the recruitment process of 720 doctors is underway. ICU facility is now available in all the district hospitals and soon 2,500 nurses will be recruited too.” Rawat further spoke of special focus being laid on tourism, adding that it will be a major source of income for the state in the coming time. In addition to facilitating transport, the Dobra Chanthi bridge has also become a major centre of attraction. A transparent Hanuman Setu is being built in Rishikesh, he added. Regarding Doiwala constituency, he said that in the past four years, work on roads and bridges costing more than Rs 100 crore had been undertaken in the area. Effort will be made to get the double laning from Bhaniyawala to Rishikesh approved soon, said the CM.