Syllabus Section: Infrastructure (GS Paper III)

Importance: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains

Why in News?

Recently, SC allows Centre to widen three Char Dham roads in view of security concerns at Indo-China border.

About:

 

 

• The three National Highways are Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh.
• These highways act as a feeder roads to the northern border with China.
• They are part of the Char Dham Highway project.
• The highways will now be developed in accordance with the double lane with paved shoulder (DLPS) system

Issues Related to the Project:

• The area forms the Main Central Thrust of the Lesser Himalayan region, this is where the Indian tectonic plate goes under the Eurasian Tectonic Plate and the phenomenon makes the region susceptible to earthquakes and landslides.
• Road construction in mountains reactivates landslides as it disturbs the toe of the natural slope of the hill.
• The road from Uttarkashi to Gangotri comes under the Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna.

• The Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna, or the Chardham highway development project, is an ambitious initiative to improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas.
• The project’s main objective is to develop around 900 km of national highways.
• These highways will be built in Uttarakhand at an approximate cost of Rs 12,000 crore.
• Char Dham highway project will lead to creation of over 900 km of roads.
• Connectivity & tourism will get a strong boost through the project.

Source: The Hindu