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On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, congratulating him on assuming office for a third consecutive term. During the meeting, Dhami presented a replica of Mahasu Temple to PM Modi and discussed several key issues related to Uttarakhand’s development. 

One major request was for the approval of the Dehradun-Mussoorie rail line project by the Railway Ministry, aimed at expanding rail services in the state. Dhami emphasized the importance of hydroelectric projects in boosting the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and highlighted the financial burden of purchasing energy worth about ₹1,000 crores annually from the open market. He requested PM Modi to review the expert committee’s final report on 24 proposed hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Power.

Challenges and solutions

Dhami also brought attention to the challenges in selecting appropriate land for compensatory afforestation under current forest conservation rules. With 67% forest cover, Uttarakhand faces significant constraints in land availability for development projects, especially along the international border. The Chief Minister urged PM Modi to expedite approvals for the transfer of forest land required by various central agencies, including NHAI, BRO, ITBP, Railways, and the Army.

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Additionally, Dhami sought PM Modi’s support for establishing a Multi-Modal Logistics Park to attract investments and advocated for the transfer of land from BHEL Haridwar for industrial development. He updated PM Modi on the progress of the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Khurpiya, stressing the need for central approval to move forward with this initiative.

Highlighting the state’s cultural and religious tourism potential, Dhami briefed PM Modi on the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission, which aims to develop 48 mythological temples. He requested ₹1,000 crore in assistance to enhance connectivity and infrastructure around these temple sites.

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Dhami also proposed several ambitious infrastructure projects, including the administrative and financial approval for tunnel projects at Jyoli Kang-Vedang, Sipu-Tola, and Milam-Lapthal, to improve connectivity and boost regional development.

In summary, Chief Minister Dhami’s meeting with PM Modi focused on securing support for critical infrastructure projects and addressing land availability challenges to drive Uttarakhand’s economic growth and development.