Uttarakhand Chief Minister Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Power Minister Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi to discuss major infrastructure and housing projects planned in the run-up to the Kumbh 2027 in Rishikesh, Haridwar, and other pilgrimage centers. The meeting focused on enhancing power supply systems, addressing housing challenges, and creating sustainable cultural destinations.
Approval of Rs. 547.83 Crore Power Project for Rishikesh
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for approving the Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs. 547.83 crore for undergrounding and automation of HT/LT power lines in the Ganga corridor of Rishikesh under the RDSS scheme. He also requested early clearance of another Rs. 315 crore proposal for the Haridwar Kumbh area, which would further strengthen the power infrastructure during the mega religious gathering.
Addressing Housing Challenges Under PMAY (Urban)
Raising concerns regarding the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), Mr. Dhami highlighted difficulties faced due to the current Whitelisting and Redeemable Voucher system, which has discouraged private developers. He sought reinstatement of the earlier 40:40:20 phased payment mechanism to ensure smoother implementation of projects.
The Chief Minister informed that construction of 15,960 housing units is underway under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) component, with 15,281 units already allotted. However, beneficiaries from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category often fail to access bank loans due to irregular income sources and low CIBIL scores. He urged the Union Government to direct banks, NBFCs, SLBC, and the RBI to introduce special guidelines to facilitate loan approvals for such beneficiaries.
Developing Riverfront Projects as Cultural and Tourism Hubs
Mr. Dhami also apprised the Union Minister about plans to develop the Rishikesh-Ganga, Haridwar-Ganga, and Sharda Riverfront at Tanakpur as world-class cultural and religious destinations. He requested a Rs. 100 crore contribution from THDC’s CSR fund to support these initiatives, which align with the Namami Gange programme and aim to strengthen sustainable tourism and local livelihoods.
Centre Extends Full Support for Kumbh 2027
Expressing confidence in the state’s preparations, Mr. Dhami assured that Uttarakhand, with the Centre’s support, will organize a safe, grand, and environmentally sensitive Kumbh in 2027 while achieving new milestones in infrastructure and housing development. Union Minister Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar reaffirmed the Central Government’s full support in realizing these developmental goals.
