NEW DELHI: In a significant relief for rural infrastructure, the Centre allocated ₹1,700 crore for 184 rural roads in Uttarakhand after a meeting between Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday. The funding will support the construction of 1,228 km of roads under the national rural connectivity scheme.
The Chief Minister said that the funding strengthened efforts to expand road connectivity in remote and mountainous regions. He said that rural residents relied heavily on all weather roads for essential services and daily movement. He added that the new road projects would reduce travel difficulties and improve access to health, education and economic opportunities in several districts. He also said that the state sought regular financial support to repair infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting covered extensive discussions on the impact of floods and landslides that affected the state earlier in the year. According to the state government assessment, 946 roads and 15 bridges suffered damage while nearly 5900 houses required various degrees of repair. The Chief Minister said that the state needed additional assistance to restore infrastructure to functional levels. He emphasised that road connectivity remained the primary requirement for communities living in hilly regions.
Our correspondent adds that the Union Minister assured cooperation in ongoing and upcoming projects under the rural roads scheme. He said that the central government recognised the challenges faced by Himalayan states and would continue to support critical infrastructure plans. Senior officials present in the meeting reviewed the status of road construction and examined proposals for the next five years. They also discussed ways to expedite approvals and reduce delays caused by terrain related difficulties.
Our correspondent reports that the newly sanctioned projects would be implemented across multiple districts and were expected to improve mobility for several remote villages. Officials said that the roads would help farmers transport produce more efficiently and strengthen market access. They added that emergency services, including medical transport, would reach remote settlements more quickly. They also said that better connectivity encouraged reverse migration and increased employment opportunities in rural pockets.
Our correspondent adds that concerns were raised by representatives from disaster affected regions who said that timely fund release remained essential for successful implementation. They said that delays in previous projects caused difficulties for residents. They urged the state government to monitor progress closely and ensure that work standards were maintained. Officials responded that monitoring mechanisms were being strengthened at district and block levels.
The Chief Minister said that rural connectivity had always been a priority for the state. He said that the terrain demanded extensive planning and consistent investment. He added that the government was working on securing a special yearly allocation for disaster related repairs. He said that repeated weather events damaged roads each year and required long term solutions. He added that the state would continue working with central agencies to secure additional support.
Administrative officials welcomed the approval and said that it reflected strong coordination between the state and central governments. They said that the new projects formed an important part of broader efforts to enhance rural development. They added that road networks played a vital role in strengthening tourism, local trade and public service delivery. Technical teams said that project standards would follow national guidelines and that work would be supervised through regular inspections.
As the state prepared to start the sanctioned work, local authorities said that communities would be informed about project timelines. They said that public cooperation would help in addressing land related issues and other administrative requirements. They added that the government expected to begin groundwork soon after completing procedural formalities. They said that the approved projects represented a major step towards long term infrastructure stability in rural Uttarakhand.
Dheeraj reports on governance, public services, jobs, and regional developments across Uttarakhand. He specialises in recruitment news, public-sector updates, and civic issues that impact everyday citizens. His reporting brings accuracy, context, and a grassroots perspective to local journalism.
