A 900-km road for four Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand: Nitin Gadkari

RUDRAPUR: The Centre will build a 900 km road for the four Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand also known as chardham, Union Minister Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari today said.

Making the announcement after laying the foundation stone of the 93-km Rampur-Rudrapur-Kathgodam four lane highway here Gadkari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will himself visit the state to lay the foundation stone of the ambitious project which will make the route to the famed Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri far more convenient.

Announcing that the Rampur-Rudrapur-Kathgodam four lane highway will be built on expressway pattern, Gadkari said farmers whose land will be acquired for the project will be paid a compensation four times higher than the prevailing circle rate.

Expressing concern at the spurt in road accidents in Uttarakhand, the Union Minister said there will be fewer mishaps with better roads and the Centre is working in that direction.

Gadkari said the Centre also has plans to make a 100-km road in the Gunji zone in Pithoragarh district to make the Mansarovar Yatra more smooth.

The Union Minister also announced that rules will be framed for properly running e-rickshaws.

A host of party leaders shared the dais with Gadkari including Union Minister of state for Parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abba Naqvi, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay and Pradesh BJP president Ajay Bhatt.