New Delhi: In a major boost to Uttarakhand’s rural connectivity and disaster recovery efforts, the Ministry of Rural Development has sanctioned ₹1,700 crore for the construction of 184 rural roads across the state. The approval came following a detailed meeting between Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The sanctioned projects cover 1,228 km of rural road length, marking a significant step toward strengthening infrastructure in the hill state.
Detailed Discussions on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Disaster-hit Areas
During the high-level meeting held in New Delhi, CM Dhami discussed essential issues pertaining to –
- Strengthening Uttarakhand’s agricultural sector
- Speeding up rural development
- Reconstruction of infrastructure damaged in recent natural disasters
The Chief Minister highlighted the extensive damage caused to the state’s road network, especially under PMGSY.
946 Roads and 15 Bridges Damaged in Disaster; ₹650 Crore Required for Rebuilding
Dhami informed the Union Minister that –
- 946 rural roads and 15 bridges were severely damaged recently
- The state requires ₹650 crore for reconstruction alone
He stressed that for a hilly state with limited resources, recovering from such large-scale destruction is extremely challenging. He requested special central support to ensure timely restoration of affected infrastructure.
मज़बूत इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर और बेहतर कनेक्टिविटी के साथ उत्तराखंड आज विकास की नई उड़ान भर रहा है। हमारा लक्ष्य हर क्षेत्र, हर समुदाय और हर व्यक्ति को प्रगति की मुख्यधारा से जोड़ना है। pic.twitter.com/RXamuqRlGU
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) December 9, 2025
Request for Funds to Repair 5,900 Damaged Houses
CM Dhami also sought central assistance for the repair of nearly 5,900 houses damaged during the disaster. He emphasized that restoring housing infrastructure is critical for rehabilitating affected families.
Focus on Agriculture: Need for Fencing & Crop Protection Measures
Discussing agricultural vulnerabilities, the Chief Minister highlighted –
- 90% of Uttarakhand’s farmers are small or marginal
- Crop damage due to wild animals remains a serious concern
Dhami thanked the Centre for including fencing work under the RKVY-DPR scheme, enabling better crop protection in the state.
He also requested a ₹200 crore annual budget for five years to support fencing, crop protection, and increasing agricultural productivity.
Union Minister Chouhan assured that advance funds will be released soon, allowing the fencing work to begin on a large scale.
Request for Early Release of ₹98 Crore Under RKVY & Namami Gange
The Chief Minister urged the Centre to expedite the release of ₹98 crore already sanctioned under:
- The Swachhta Action Plan (PM-RKVY)
- Namami Gange Clean Campaign for 2025–26
He said these funds are essential for ongoing agricultural and environmental initiatives.
Union Minister Promises Full Support
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan responded positively, assuring CM Dhami that the Centre would –
- Consider the state’s proposals on priority
- Provide all necessary support for rural development and disaster recovery
- Move quickly on fund approvals and infrastructure needs
Officials Present
The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including –
- MP Mahendra Bhatt
- Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Devesh Chaturvedi
- CEO, PMGSY Alok Kumar Pandey
- Uttarakhand Resident Commissioner Ajay Mishra
