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Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Rispana-Bindal road projects: Concerns grow over environmental impact, lack of rehab plan
Dehradun: Concerns over the Rs 6,500 crore Rispana-Bindal elevated road project, which is touted as a 'solution to Doon's traffic woes' have intensified with several stakeholders, including residents, activists, and thousands of slum dwellers who may be displaced, expressing apprehension regarding the proposed 26-km elevated corridor, planned over the Rispana and Bindal riverbeds, aims to ease city traffic and offer a quicker route to Mussoorie. But activists claim it may cause irreversible ecological damage and permanently alter Dehradun's skyline. On Tuesday, the Dehradun Citizens Forum hosted a Town Hall Meet on the project at The Doon Library & Research Centre. The session featured a presentation by PWD engineer Jitendra Tripathi and consultancy firm Spectrum. Attended by over 100 professionals from diverse fields, the event saw strong calls for the immediate public release of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and an inclusive cost-benefit analysis. Participants also urged that river rejuvenation efforts proceed independently of the corridor project. Officials said detailed project reports (DPRs) have been prepared and submitted to the state govt for approval. The criticism about the project centres on two fronts -- environmentalists fear the project will severely impact the Doon valley's ecology, while social activists warn of the large-scale displacement of residents once construction begins. The project also contradicts previous claims by the state govt to rejuvenate the rivers. Activists fear that such a large-scale infrastructure undertaking will leave no scope for restoration and could mark the end of these rivers. They are demanding transparency, environmental safeguards, and clear rehabilitation policies before work starts on the elevated road network. "There is both curiosity and concern among residents across Dehradun about the elevated roads being built over the fragile riverbeds of Rispana and Bindal," said social activist Anoop Nautiyal. "With pillars up to 15 metres high, this corridor risks permanently changing the city's ecological fabric. We're demanding that the Environmental Impact Assessment report be made public so that citizens can engage meaningfully and assess the true costs." Activists also called for public involvement in planning major infrastructure projects, especially those that claim to serve public interest. "There is often a stark contrast between govt claims and ground realities," said Manoj Dewaria, a resident of Kanwali Road. "They say it's to ease traffic, but what about the thousands of families whose future now hangs in the balance? There's been no talk of compensation or rehabilitation. What kind of public policy is this?" With project details still unclear, activists have filed several RTIs, but responses have been vague. One such reply from the PWD, accessed by TOI, stated: "In light of increasing traffic pressure in Dehradun and unavailability of space for road widening, the construction of the Rispana-Bindal elevated corridor is proposed. This will provide relief from traffic congestion in Dehradun. The project is under process and until its completion, specific details cannot be provided. "
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Doon residents upset over lack of transparency in beautification projects
Dehradun: For over a month, beautification work has been underway at four major landmarks in Dehradun. However, many residents have expressed dissatisfaction at being excluded from the planning process once again. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) is executing landscaping and beautification efforts at Dilaram Chowk, Clock Tower, Sai Mandir Chowk, and Kuthal Gate, in addition to drainage upgrades at ISBT. According to officials, the projects, estimated to cost Rs 10 crore, aim to transform available spaces with modular designs that not only enhance cleanliness but also attract tourists. Sources told TOI that these projects were assigned to DSCL to utilise leftover funds after the dissolution of Smart Cities Mission by March 31 this year. "Extensive beautification was already carried out just a year and a half ago for the Global Investors' Summit, costing taxpayers lakhs. Now we're starting from scratch again instead of maintaining existing work. This is a blatant misuse of resources," said social activist Anoop Nautiyal. He also criticised the lack of public engagement. "Citizen involvement was completely absent from the process. If plans were shared publicly, feedback and suggestions could be included. Lakhs were spent to build Brahmakamal Chowk, only to dismantle it later. The Clock Tower has undergone multiple redesigns in recent years. This culture of working in silos is disappointing, and authorities must change their mindset," Nautiyal added. Administrative officials, however, claim that the revamped landmarks will reflect local 'pahadi' aesthetics and will help streamline traffic with new slip roads and signals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Most of the work will be done by the end of June," said DSCL ACEO Tirath Pal. The only major active Smart City project remaining in Dehradun after this is the Rs 206 crore Green Building initiative. Meanwhile, civic bodies also voiced concerns, particularly as the Clock Tower area falls under the jurisdiction of Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC). "Multiple agencies working independently often lead to coordination and maintenance issues, as we've seen with previous projects," said a senior DMC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
Char Dham pilgrim footfall drops from 8 lakh to 5.5 lakh in first 12 days
Dehradun: Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, which triggered four days of hostilities between India and Pakistan tensions along the border, and inclement weather conditions have led to a significant drop in the number of pilgrims visiting the Char Dham shrines in the first 12 days of the 2025 yatra. While around 8 lakh devotees visited the four Himalayan shrines during the same period in 2024, the number has fallen to 5.5 lakh this Badrinath and Gangotri — both accessible by road — have seen a steeper decline in footfall. On May 11, Badrinath recorded 13,971 devotees, well below the usual numbers for this time of a shift from past trends, Yamunotri has seen higher turnout than Gangotri. Till May 11, Yamunotri had received 1.12 lakh pilgrims, compared to 94,251 at Gangotri. On May 11 alone, Yamunotri drew 10,773 devotees, while Gangotri saw 9, Kedarnath, the drop has been particularly stark. On the 10th day of the yatra in 2024, over 34,892 pilgrims had offered prayers, while this year the number stood at 20, activist and environmentalist Anoop Nautiyal attributed the decline to a combination of weather-related disruptions and border-related tensions. "A drop of over 2.5 lakh is significant. I expect the numbers to pick up in the latter half of May," he said. He added, "Rather than chasing numbers, the government should focus on environmental sustainability and managing overcrowding, especially in areas located above 3,000 metres."Nautiyal also called for setting and enforcing capacity limits for each of the Char Dham shrines to ensure safer and more sustainable pilgrimages.
Economic Times
09-05-2025
- Economic Times
Char Dham Yatra sees 26% dip in pilgrims in first week, but officials attribute it to better planning
Char Dham Yatra Sees 26% Dip in Pilgrims in First Week The Char Dham Yatra, one of India's most important pilgrimages, has seen a 26% drop in the number of pilgrims during its first week this year. Since the yatra began on 30 April, around 2.9 lakh devotees have visited the four shrines, nearly 1 lakh fewer than the 3.9 lakh who came during the same period in say this decline is actually a result of better planning. To stop overcrowding in the early days, the government started online registration 40 days before the yatra and delayed offline registration until just a few days before the start. Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that this year, online registration began on 20 March, much earlier than usual. Aadhaar verification was made compulsory, and all documents were properly checked before pilgrims were allowed to move forward. He added that more offline booking counters were set up this year, which also helped manage the of the Doon-based SDC Foundation Anoop Nautiyal said the drop in numbers is also because of the staggered opening of the shrines. In 2024, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri opened on 10 May, and Badrinath on 12 May. But this year, Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on 30 April, Kedarnath on 2 May, and Badrinath on 4 May. This spread-out schedule has led to a slower build-up of pilgrims. Nautiyal said the number of visitors is likely to increase later in May, especially during the summer holidays. He also urged the government to treat the yatra as a sacred and environmentally sensitive event, not just a tourist attraction. 'It needs careful planning and respect,' he far, more than 25 lakh people have registered for this year's yatra: 8.7 lakh for Kedarnath, 7.8 lakh for Badrinath, 4.5 lakh for Gangotri, and 4.1 lakh for Yamunotri. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Char Dham yatra sees 26% dip in pilgrim footfall in opening week, officials credit ‘improved planning' to prevent overcrowding
Dehradun: The Char Dham yatra has seen a 26% drop in pilgrim footfall within a week of its start (on April 30), compared to the same period last year. By Tuesday, 2.9 lakh devotees had visited the four Himalayan shrines, down from 3.9 lakh in 2024, a decline of nearly 1 lakh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials attributed the dip to "improved planning and staggered registration", which helped streamline the pilgrim flow. To avoid overcrowding during the initial days, the govt opened online registration 40 days before the yatra began, while offline registration started just a few days before the annual pilgrimage commenced. State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that following last year's experience, online registration was launched on March 20, well ahead of the start date. Further, Aadhaar verification was made mandatory and documents were "thoroughly checked before pilgrims were allowed to proceed." "We opened more offline booking counters and as a result of proper planning, we were able to prevent overcrowding," said the minister. Commenting on the drop in numbers, Anoop Nautiyal, founder of Doon-based think-tank, SDC Foundation, said, "The decline can be largely attributed to the staggered opening schedule this year. In 2024, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri opened on May 10, while Badrinath opened on May 12. In contrast, this year, Kedarnath opened on May 2, after the portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on April 30, followed by Badrinath on May 4. This has contributed to a slower and more scattered build-up of pilgrim momentum." He added that despite the slow start, the yatra is expected to peak in the latter half of May, based on trends observed last year, when summer vacations begin and more pilgrims arrive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We urge the govt and all stakeholders to treat this pilgrimage not just as a tourism event, but as a spiritually sacred and environmentally-delicate exercise, one that requires balance, planning, and foresight," Nautiyal said. As of Wednesday, over 25 lakh people had registered for the yatra: 8.7 lakh for Kedarnath, 7.8 lakh for Badrinath, 4.5 lakh for Gangotri, and 4.1 lakh for Yamunotri. Dehradun: The Char Dham yatra has seen a 26% drop in pilgrim footfall within a week of its start (on April 30), compared to the same period last year. By Tuesday, 2.9 lakh devotees had visited the four Himalayan shrines, down from 3.9 lakh in 2024, a decline of nearly 1 lakh. Officials attributed the dip to "improved planning and staggered registration", which helped streamline the pilgrim flow. To avoid overcrowding during the initial days, the govt opened online registration 40 days before the yatra began, while offline registration started just a few days before the annual pilgrimage commenced. State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that following last year's experience, online registration was launched on March 20, well ahead of the start date. Further, Aadhaar verification was made mandatory and documents were "thoroughly checked before pilgrims were allowed to proceed." "We opened more offline booking counters and as a result of proper planning, we were able to prevent overcrowding," said the minister. Commenting on the drop in numbers, Anoop Nautiyal, founder of Doon-based think-tank, SDC Foundation, said, "The decline can be largely attributed to the staggered opening schedule this year. In 2024, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri opened on May 10, while Badrinath opened on May 12. In contrast, this year, Kedarnath opened on May 2, after the portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on April 30, followed by Badrinath on May 4. This has contributed to a slower and more scattered build-up of pilgrim momentum." He added that despite the slow start, the yatra is expected to peak in the latter half of May, based on trends observed last year, when summer vacations begin and more pilgrims arrive. "We urge the govt and all stakeholders to treat this pilgrimage not just as a tourism event, but as a spiritually sacred and environmentally-delicate exercise, one that requires balance, planning, and foresight," Nautiyal said. As of Wednesday, over 25 lakh people had registered for the yatra: 8.7 lakh for Kedarnath, 7.8 lakh for Badrinath, 4.5 lakh for Gangotri, and 4.1 lakh for Yamunotri.
