Three years of Uttarakhand government: AIIMS centre, expressway projects & rail links among milestones

NEW DELHI: Uttarakhand has seen significant development strides over the past three years under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami , with strong support from the central government—often described as the "double engine" model. During Dhami's tenure, the central government has approved new projects and accelerated previously stalled ones, furthering the state's development agenda.

AIIMS satellite centre in Kumaon
While AIIMS Rishikesh is fully operational, the central government has now approved a satellite AIIMS centre in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar, which is anticipated to begin operations next year. This facility aims to improve healthcare accessibility for Kumaon and Terai residents. Additionally, the central government has allocated 100 MBBS seats for a new medical college in Haridwar and sanctioned another 100 seats for Almora Medical College, adding 200 medical seats in the past two years.

Expressway set to cut travel time
With central support, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is making swift progress. A notable feature is the elevated road section through Rajaji National Park, nearing completion. This expressway will reduce Delhi-Dehradun travel time to about two and a half hours from the current five to six hours. The central government has also approved the Najibabad-Afzalgarh bypass to shorten distances between Garhwal and Kumaon. In the past three years, rural road construction in Uttarakhand has surged, with the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana adding 519 new roads spanning 1,481 km and connecting 35 villages previously without road access.

Rail connectivity to receive boost
The central government is pushing to complete the strategic Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line by 2026, with track installation set to begin soon. Efforts are also underway to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for other rail routes, including Bageshwar-Tanakpur and Rishikesh-Uttarkashi. Eleven railway stations across Uttarakhand—including Dehradun, Haridwar, and Kathgodam—are set for transformation into Amrit stations under the new fiscal budget, which allocates Rs 5,131 crore for rail projects in the state.

National Games after G20 success
Following Uttarakhand’s success in hosting four G20 meetings, which showcased its culture, cuisine, and spiritual heritage, the central government has chosen the state to host the National Games in January-February next year. The event is expected to boost sports infrastructure and highlight Uttarakhand on a national level.

Vibrant village programme for border areas
The central government has included 51 Uttarakhand villages along the Nepal and China borders in its Vibrant Village Programme. These villages, situated in five development blocks across three border districts, will see 510 development projects with an investment of Rs 758 crore. The state has also received approval for over 18,000 additional housing units under the PM Awas Yojana (Gramin).

Hydropower projects for regional benefit
The central cabinet has greenlit the Lakhwar multipurpose project, which will provide irrigation for around 34,000 hectares, produce 300 MW of hydropower, and supply drinking water to six states, including Uttarakhand and Delhi. The much-anticipated Jamrani dam project in Kumaon has also received approval, signalling progress in water resource management.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi once declared that the coming decade will belong to Uttarakhand. Following this vision, the central government is providing full support for the state’s development. With significant central backing, Uttarakhand is building a robust infrastructure network. For this, the people of Uttarakhand express their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.