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The threat of landslides in Uttarakhand, particularly the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone, is making the government consider tweaks to some roads being built as part of the Chardham project
Last year, a cave-in of a section of Silkyara tunnel, which is a part of the project, trapped miners who were subsequently rescued after a fortnight-long operation
Chardham road project
The foundation stone for the Char Dham road project was laid by PM Narendra Modi in December 2016
The project involves developing and widening nearly 900-km of national highways connecting the holy Hindu pilgrimage sites of; Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri at an estimated cost of Rs.12,000 crores.
It is being implemented by Uttarakhand State Public Works Department (PWD), Border Roads Organization (BRO) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
The highway will be called Chardham Mahamarg(Char Dham Highway) and the highway construction project will be called Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna(Char Dham Highway Development Project)
Supreme Court has decreed that the width of the roads can be of 10m as sought by the Centre, paving the way for their double-laning
Along with this, the Tanakpur-Pithoragarh highway and its part up to Lipulekh will also be completed, which will facilitate the journey of Kailash-Mansarovar.
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