Friday, 16 July 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
During his second tour of the national capital within a week, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met two Union ministers and the chief of defence staff on Thursday. He discussed various important issues of the state with them.
Meeting the Union minister of Railway, Telecommunication, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav, Dhami discussed various railway projects in detail. He requested that considering the Rs 296.67 contributed by Uttarakhand so far for the Roorkee-Devband project as adequate, the ministry and Uttar Pradesh government should finance the remaining works. Considering strategic interests and for development of border districts, survey of Tanakpur-Bageshwar broad gauge line instead of narrow gauge should be conducted. Dhami requested approval for final location survey for this and construction of Rishikesh-Uttarkashi rail line. Repeating the request of his predecessors, he sought approval for construction of a diversion line at Raiwala railway station for direct rail link between Doiwala and Rishikesh along with approval for Rs 1,024 crore DPR for doubling of Haridwar-Dehradun railway line. The Union minister directed the departmental officials to take necessary action on both these proposals. Regarding the development of infrastructural facilities for Rishikesh-Karnprayag line, Dhami suggested that the possibility of solar energy generation should be considered as part of the infrastructure.
During his interaction with the Union Tourism minister G Kishan Reddy, Dhami informed him about tourism development works in Uttarakhand. He sought approval soon for the plan to develop IDPL, Rishikesh into a special tourism zone. He informed that a biodiversity party, international convention centre, resort, hotel and wellness centre are proposed in 600 acres at IDPL, Rishikesh. Thanking Reddy for Rs 55 crore approved for works in Gangotri and Yamunotri, Dhami invited the Union minister to visit Uttarakhand. Reddy assured him of all possible assistance from the ministry.
The chief minister also met the chief of defence staff, general Bipin Rawat and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) chief Anil Dhasmana. General Rawat and Dhami discussed developmental aspects of Uttarakhand, especially development of border areas. Citing strategic importance considering borders with China and Nepal, Dhami sought priority for Uttarakhand in border area development programmes. He stressed on the need for working on schemes to mitigate migration from border areas. The chief minister also sought resumption of recruitment rallies stalled due to Covid-19. General Rawat assured of all possible cooperation in development of the border areas.
NTRO chief Anil Dhasmana said that full assistance will be provided for development of drone technology in Uttarakhand.
