Uttarakhand CM Seeks ₹1,546 Crore for Kichha Khatima Railway Project, Invites PM Modi to Global Investors Summit

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to discuss the Kichha Khatima Railway Station project and requested funds amounting to ₹1,546 crore. During the meeting held in the national capital, Dhami also extended an invitation to PM Modi to be the chief guest at a global investors summit scheduled to take place in Uttarakhand in December.

The chief minister emphasized the significance of the global investors summit in attracting both national and international investors to the state. He expressed confidence that, with the Prime Minister’s guidance, the conference would be successfully completed. Dhami highlighted the estimated cost of the Kichha Khatima Railway Station project, which amounts to ₹1,546 crore, and requested the central government to bear the entire cost.

Additionally, CM Dhami urged PM Modi to grant approval for relocating the main railway station of Dehradun to Harrawala. This move is aimed at streamlining traffic in Dehradun and Rishikesh. Dhami proposed shifting the main railway station of Dehradun to Harrawala and transferring the land of the old railway station in Rishikesh to the state government.

In a separate development, CM Dhami met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday to seek the release of ₹1,774 crore for the Song Dam drinking water project. The chief minister requested special assistance from the central government and also called for the removal of the ceiling imposed on the extent of loans that can be availed by the state in externally aided projects, considering the special circumstances of Uttarakhand.

The Song Dam drinking water project is planned along the Song River, a tributary of the Ganga, situated near the boundary of Dehradun and Tehri Garhwal districts. The project entails the construction of a 130-meter-high reinforced cement dam, creating a lake spanning approximately 4 km and covering 69 hectares of land. The estimated cost of the project is ₹2,021 crore.

Dhami highlighted the significance of the drinking water project, stating that it would provide a daily supply of 150 million liters of water to approximately one million people in Dehradun city and its suburbs. He emphasized that the project would significantly reduce dependence on tube wells and promote tourism in the area, leading to employment generation and increased income for the local citizens. Furthermore, the project would aid in flood control and protect around 15,000 residents residing in ten villages of Dehradun district.

The chief minister assured that all necessary approvals, including technical and forest land clearances, have been obtained for the project. He also mentioned that the state government would bear the expenditure of ₹247 crore for the rehabilitation and resettlement of families affected by the project.

Dhami further discussed the upcoming initiatives in the state, including the undergrounding of power lines and strengthening of the transmission system, for which he sought approval from the Department of Economic Affairs.

As Uttarakhand strives to undertake crucial development projects, the request for financial assistance from the central government is seen as a significant step towards furthering the state’s growth and attracting investment opportunities.

Sources By Agencies