Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced the construction of a Vishwanath-Shakti Temple Corridor in Uttarkashi, saying it will improve facilities for pilgrims and strengthen religious tourism in the district.

Dhami made the announcement on Wednesday during a visit to the historic Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shakti Temple. He offered prayers for the prosperity, peace and well-being of Uttarakhand and its people before attending public programmes in the town.

The proposed corridor will connect the sacred site of Baba Vishwanath and Maa Shakti, which Dhami described as a major centre of faith for devotees. He said the project would also create local employment opportunities alongside improving the pilgrexperience.

Development plans for Uttarkashi

During the visit, Dhami said 50 development schemes worth more than Rs 200 crore had either been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid in Uttarkashi district. Work on 26 of these projects has been completed, while 24 projects are underway.

He announced that development and beautification work related to Dodital, Awana Bugyal and Hari Maharaj Saud Bugyal would be taken forward. He also said the Health Centre at Dhauntari in the Gajna area would be named after former MLA late Gopal Singh Rawat.

Dhami said the proposal to upgrade the Primary Health Centre at Dhauntari would be examined. He added that a proposal to establish a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bhatwari had been sent to the Government of India, with efforts planned to secure its early approval.

Seva Sankalp programme

After offering prayers, the Chief Minister participated in the Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra and Seva Sankalp Sabha at the historic Ramlila Maidan. The events were organised under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.

He also attended a programme marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years in public service. Dhami said Modi had made public service, good governance and the welfare of the poor the foundation of his public life over the past 2-and-a-half decades.

Dhami described the Seva Jyoti Yatra as a symbol of public service, national spirit and public welfare. Referring to government schemes, he said initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana had reached people at the grassroots level.

“Governance has been taken beyond government offices and files and brought to the doorsteps of the people,” he said.

State development claims

The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Modi had described the third decade of the 21st century as the decade of Uttarakhand from the land of Baba Kedarnath. He said the state government was working to realise that vision through expanded connectivity and wider economic opportunities.

According to Dhami, road, rail and air connectivity is being expanded across Uttarakhand. He said opportunities in industry, tourism, employment and self-employment were also increasing.

Dhami said the state economy had grown by more than one-and-a-half times over the past 4 years, while per capita income had risen by more than 41 per cent. He said more than 20,000 new industries had been established during this period.

He also said the number of hotels had increased by around 25 per cent and homestays by more than 50 per cent. More than 3 lakh women in Uttarakhand, he added, had become Lakhpati Didis.

The Chief Minister further said Uttarakhand had secured the first position in the country in the Sustainable Development Goals Index. He said the state had been recognised as the Most Film Friendly State for 4 consecutive years and had become fully literate.

Pilgrand governance measures

Dhami said efforts to make the Char Dham Yatra safe, convenient and well-organised had produced results. More than 56 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the pilgrso far this year, according to his statement.

He also highlighted legal and administrative measures adopted by the state. Uttarakhand, he said, had become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code. He also referred to the anti-conversion law, anti-riot law, land law and anti-copying law.

Dhami said a transparent recruitment system, together with the anti-copying law, had helped more than 35,000 youths secure government jobs on merit over nearly the past 5 years.

“The resolve of a Viksit Bharat must be translated into our duties and responsibilities,” he said. Dhami added that the state government was working to make Uttarakhand one of the leading states in the country in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.

Conclusion

The Vishwanath-Shakti Temple Corridor is the main announcement from Dhami’s Uttarkashi visit. The Chief Minister said it would improve pilgrim facilities, support religious tourism and create local employment, while several district projects and proposals remain at different stages of implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What did Pushkar Singh Dhami announce in Uttarkashi?

Dhami announced the construction of a Vishwanath-Shakti Temple Corridor in the district.

Q. Why is the proposed corridor being built?

It is intended to provide better facilities to pilgrims, promote religious tourism and create local employment opportunities.

Q. How many Uttarkashi development schemes did Dhami mention?

He mentioned 50 schemes worth more than Rs 200 crore. Work on 26 has been completed and 24 are underway.

Q. What education proposal did Dhami discuss?

He said a proposal to establish a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Bhatwari had been sent to the Government of India.

Q. What health-related announcements were made?

Dhami said the proposal to upgrade the Primary Health Centre at Dhauntari would be examined. He also announced that the Health Centre at Dhauntari, Gajna, would be named after former MLA late Gopal Singh Rawat.

Q. How many pilgrims had undertaken the Char Dham Yatra this year?

Dhami said more than 56 lakh pilgrims had undertaken the pilgrso far this year.

Q. What did Dhami say about government recruitment?

He said more than 35,000 youths had secured government jobs on merit over nearly the past 5 years.