Key planning group sets ball rolling for Rishikesh bypass construction

NEW DELHI: Setting the ball rolling for the construction of the Rishikesh bypass in Uttarakhand, the Network Planning Group, which is a part of the PM Gati Shakti initiative for comprehensive infrastructure planning, on Tuesday evaluated the 11-km elevated section of the key project.

This elevated stretch through the city will provide easy access and entry without any junction to cross over the traffic coming from Dehradun and Haridwar, and going towards Kedarnath-Badrinah and Yamunotri-Gangotri. "The project includes a 6/4-lane elevated corridor and an additional four-lane road, offering alternative routes to manage future traffic and improve overall capacity," said a commerce and industry ministry statement.

Sources said the construction of the elevated portion would cost around Rs 1,500 crore. They added two other packages of the project would be evaluated soon. "But once the first part (elevated stretch) is completed, it will bring huge relief," an official said. The second part will include construction of five tunnels.

As per the proposal, it will provide direct access for traffic from the Jolly Grant airport, thereby ensuring free movement to the Char Dhams. Traffic coming from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab can enter directly on this proposed elevated road and freely cross over the Rishikesh city for going to all Char Dhams. It will also eliminate the railway crossing on the corridor, and there will be complete segregation of through and local traffic.

The project becomes crucial considering the increase in projected traffic growth.