PNS | DEHRADUN
The State government is currently developing parking facilities for over 15,000 vehicles at 182 locations through various development authorities. The authorities have already completed construction of parking spaces at 34 locations out of 182. The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) is constructing parking facilities for 2,000 vehicles in Rishikesh and Dehradun alone, as per the officials.
With the year-round influx of tourists and pilgrims in Uttarakhand, traffic congestion has become a pressing concern in the state. The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that to address this issue, the government is taking significant measures, including road widening and the construction of parking facilities in major cities, pilgrimage sites and tourist destinations. The growing traffic volume has also led to frequent congestion in key urban and tourist areas.
To resolve this, the Uttarakhand Housing and Urban Development Authority (UHUDA), in collaboration with other development authorities, is working on creating parking facilities at 182 sites, accommodating a total of 15,857 vehicles. Among these, 34 sites have been completed, providing parking for 2,102 vehicles and construction is underway at 47 more locations. Preparations for the remaining sites are progressing at various levels.
The chief administrator of UHUDA R Meenakshi Sundaram informed that the government will also introduce tunnel parking for the first time in the State. Due to the limited availability of land for surface and multi-story parking in the hilly terrain, tunnel parking offers a viable solution. This concept involves constructing tunnels within mountains to create parking spaces. Locations identified for tunnel parking include Bageshwar, Laxman Jhula, Ukhimath, Kempty Falls, Nainbagh, Tapovan, Uttarkashi, the Yamunotri route and two sites in Nainital.
According to Sundaram, this innovative solution could become a milestone for Uttarakhand’s infrastructure development. The government is prioritising this initiative to save visitors’ time from being wasted in traffic jams at key locations. All district magistrates have been instructed to expedite the selection of suitable land for these projects.
This initiative is expected to benefit not only tourists and pilgrims but also local residents who frequently face traffic-related challenges, he said. He informed that the comprehensive plan includes surface parking at 57 locations, multi-story parking at 107 sites, automated parking facilities at nine sites and tunnel parking at 10 locations, collectively aiming to accommodate 15,857 vehicles.
