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Char Dham highways
The Supreme Court upheld the Government’s mandate to broaden three Himalayan highways, considered crucial by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for quick troop build-up along the India-China border.
The three National Highways:
- Rishikesh to Mana
- Rishikesh to Gangotri
- Tanakpur to Pithoragarh
They act as feeder roads to the northern border with China.
They are part of the Char Dham Highway project.
The highways will now be developed in accordance with the double lane with paved shoulder (DLPS) system.
Earlier Supreme Court order had directed that mountain roads for the Char Dham project should be 5.5 metres in width in compliance with a 2018 circular of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
In December 2020 the Ministry had amended its circular stating - for roads in hilly and mountainous terrain which act as feeder roads to the Indo-China border [and] are of strategic importance for national security, the carriageway width should be 7 m with 1.5 m paved shoulder on either side.
The court allowed the Ministry of Defence’s application for a double lane with paved shoulder (DLPS) configuration for three strategic highways.
Advised to take note of the environmental concerns raised related to the project Implementation of High-Powered Committee (HPC) recommendations for taking remedial measures by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Defence.
Formed oversight committee under Supreme Court judge, Justice A.K. Sikri, to ensure that the Government implements the remedial measures recommended by the court’s HPC for the environment.
It is a programme taken up by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for connectivity improvement for Chardham (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri) in Uttrakhand.
Uttarakhand State Public Works Department (PWD), BRO and the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will be the implementing agencies for the project.
The total cost of project is ₹12,000 crores.
The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 December 2016 in Dehradun.
The highway will be called Char Dham Mahamarg (Char Dham Highway) and the highway construction project will be called as Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana (Char Dham Highway Development Project) and is made to improve the connectivity to the Chota Char Dham in the Himalayas.
Originating from Rishikesh, the Char Dham highway network will have four distinct routes.
From west to east and south to north:
Rishikesh–Yamunotri
Rishikesh
Dharasu, NH 94, 144 km from Rishikesh
Yamunotri, NH 94, 95 km from Dharasu.
Rishikesh–Gangotri (same route as previous one till Dharasu).
This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Gangotri close to the border area of Nelang Valley.
Rishikesh
Dharasu, NH 94, 144 km from Rishikesh
Gangotri, NH 108, 124 km from Dharasu.
Rishikesh–Kedarnath
Rishikesh
Rudraprayag, NH 58, 140 km from Rishikesh
Gaurikund, NH 109, 76 km from Rudraprayag
Rishikesh–Badrinath (same route are previous one till Rudraprayag).
This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Badrinath closer to the area of Barahoti .
Rishikesh
Rudraprayag, NH 58, 140 km from Rishikesh
Joshimath
Mana (trek to Badrinath), NH 58, 140 km from Rudraprayag
