Haridwar, July 21, 2026: In a major push to transform Haridwar into a modern, safe, orderly and world-class spiritual destination, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today performed the ground-breaking and foundation stone laying ceremony for four key infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹235 crore under the Haridwar-Rishikesh Ganga Corridor.
The projects, being executed by the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB), are designed to strengthen preparations for Mahakumbh 2027 while also improving year-round facilities for devotees, Kanwar pilgrims and local residents. The initiative is also expected to support tourism, trade, transport, hospitality, handicrafts and other service-related sectors, giving a fresh boost to the local economy.
The ceremony was held at Alaknanda Hotel in Haridwar, where the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the ₹43.25 crore Administrative Route Corridor Development Project. He also inaugurated groundwork for three more major projects ₹66.76 crore for the revival of Har Ki Pauri and Subhash Ghat, ₹66.34 crore for infrastructure development in the northern zone of Har Ki Pauri, and ₹58.84 crore for the redevelopment of the Rodi Belwala area.
Dhami said these works are part of a larger vision to develop Haridwar as a world-class spiritual and cultural city. He directed officials to complete the projects within the stipulated timeline and ensure that there is no compromise on quality at any stage.
He said India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is rapidly moving toward the preservation, promotion and revival of its cultural heritage. In the same spirit, the Uttarakhand government is working on ambitious projects such as the Haridwar-Rishikesh Ganga Corridor, Kedarkhand Temple Malla Mission, Manaskhand Temple Malla Mission, Sharda Corridor, Goljyu Corridor and Vivekananda Corridor.
Referring to the upcoming Mahakumbh 2027, the Chief Minister said the event will be a grand symbol of India’s cultural unity and spiritual energy. He said the government is working on a war footing to make it the most divine, grand, safe and well-organized Kumbh in the state’s history.
Dhami also said that preparations for Mahakumbh include the construction of new ghats and bridges, widening and strengthening of key roads, and modernization of traffic systems in Haridwar. He specifically mentioned the widening of the road from Bahadrabad-SIDCUL to Shivalik Nagar, the construction of a new bridge over the Roh River between Jwalapur and Shivalik Nagar, and the widening and strengthening of the road from Patanjali Yogpeeth to Ferozepur.
He added that Haridwar is being developed not only as a centre of faith, but also as a major hub of education, healthcare, tourism, modern infrastructure and employment. The Haridwar Medical College is in its final stage, while the proposed model degree college in Laldhang and health centre in Shyampur will strengthen education and health access for local people.
The state government is also working rapidly on a heliport, pod taxi project, and ropeway connectivity from Har Ki Pauri to Maa Chandi Devi and Maa Mansa Devi. In addition, bridge and swing-bridge projects are underway in the Laldhang region, along with the development of a game zone beneath the Shankaracharya flyover and parking, park and commercial complex facilities under the Motichur flyover.
The Chief Minister said the government has now moved away from the earlier practice of making only temporary arrangements during the Kanwar Yatra. Instead, it has started permanent and modern development of the Kanwar Patti route, so that the millions of pilgrims who arrive every year can get safer, smoother and better facilities.
He also reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting Uttarakhand’s cultural identity and the original spirit of Devbhoomi. In this context, he referred to the Uniform Civil Code, strict anti-conversion law, anti-copying law, zero-tolerance policy against corruption, removal of encroachments from more than 12,000 acres of government land, and transparent recruitment that has resulted in more than 34,000 appointments.
Cabinet ministers Satpal Maharaj and Madan Kaushik, along with Ram Singh Kaira and Pradeep Batra, also addressed the gathering. UIIDB Managing Director and Principal Secretary Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram said special efforts are being made to complete all projects before Mahakumbh.
The event was attended by several public representatives and senior officials, including Vishwas Dabar, Om Prakash Jamdagni, Vinay Rohilla, Sunil Saini, Dr. Jaypal Singh Chauhan, Shyamveer Saini, Deshraj Karnwal, Dinesh Kaushik, Nitin Gautam, Ajit Chaudhary, Shobharam Prajapati, District Panchayat President Kiran Chaudhary, Haridwar Mayor Kiran Jaiswal, Roorkee Mayor Anita Agrawal, former minister Swami Yatishwaranand, Ranipur MLA Adesh Chauhan, Shivalik Nagar municipal chair Rajeev Sharma, former MLA Sanjay Gupta, BJP district chiefs Ashutosh Sharma and Dr. Madhu, state media co-incharge Vikas Tiwari, Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey, Mela Officer Sonika, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, IG Kumbh Dr. Yogendra Singh Rawat, SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar, and Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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