Rapid Rail speed till Haridwar? Uttarakhand Chief Secretary’s initiative in Delhi raises hopes”
Efforts to bring Rapid Rail from Meerut to Haridwar-Rishikesh accelerate, positive signal received from the Centre
A major initiative has been taken for better traffic system and travel facilities in Uttarakhand. State Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan met the Central Government officials and made an important proposal – Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail should be extended to Haridwar and Rishikesh. This is not just a transport project, but can become a part of a big traffic solution, which will enable easy access to major religious and tourist places of Uttarakhand.The Chief Secretary discussed this issue in detail with Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Delhi. He clearly said that vehicle congestion and traffic jam have become a common problem in Uttarakhand, especially in cities like Haridwar and Rishikesh. In such a situation, if the facility of Rapid Rail is extended to these cities, then lakhs of passengers will get direct benefit from it.
The Union Secretary also took this suggestion seriously and assured that this proposal will be thoroughly examined. He indicated that further action can be taken on this after evaluating the technical and financial aspects.
Traffic-stricken Dehradun and Haridwar can get relief – Traffic jams are not new in cities like Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh. The situation becomes even worse during the festival season, holidays or at the time of any big event. In such a situation, if the facility of rapid rail is available, not only will the local people get relief, but tourism will also get a huge boost. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan talked about this issue not only from the angle of traffic, but also linked it to improvement in transport infrastructure and environmental protection. While the pressure of vehicles on the road will decrease with the rapid rail, pollution will also be reduced to a great extent. This is very important for the state which is already emphasizing on eco-friendly policies. He also said that in cities like Dehradun, which are education and administrative hubs, the traffic burden is increasing every day. If the Delhi-Meerut rapid rail line is extended to Haridwar and Rishikesh, then the traffic will increase. If this policy is brought, then daily commuters will get great relief.
Electric vehicle policy also discussed, companies from Tata to Hyundai showed interest
Keeping in mind the future of transport, Anand Bardhan also took a big step regarding electric vehicles (EVs). During his meeting in Delhi, he met representatives of major auto companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Hyundai, Kia Motors, GSW and discussed the electric vehicle policy of Uttarakhand.He told the investors that the Uttarakhand government is fully prepared to provide better facilities in this sector. To promote the EV sector, the government is working on important things like land, tax concessions, charging infrastructure.
It also came to light in the conversation that many companies are exploring the possibilities of setting up their plants in Uttarakhand or increasing dealership and service network. This will not only promote environmentally friendly transport in the state, but employment opportunities will also increase rapidly.Many assurances received from the Center for the development of the state, now eyes on implementation
This visit of the Chief Secretary was not limited to Rapid Rail and EV policy only. He met secretaries of several ministries in Delhi, including civil aviation, environment, drinking water, defence, MSME, rural development and information and broadcasting ministries.In every meeting, he raised important issues related to the state and sought cooperation from the Centre. He presented a clear vision especially regarding development of villages, increasing air connectivity, water management, environmental protection and industries.
A positive attitude was seen from most of the ministries and now it is expected that the effect of these meetings will be seen on the ground soon.
