In order to check massive landslides damaging highways in the hills, the Centre has allotted Rs. 1,000-cr this fiscal, out of the total project cost of Rs. 12,000-cr for measures including creating concrete safeguards on both sides of NHs and also by taking up massive plantation drives along highways. The program will largely cover Char Dham under the Char Dham National Highway Connectivity Improvement Program. The roads will be constructed two-lanes, expanded to total 12 meter wide. The decision prompted after environmentalists repeatedly raised concern over felling of lakhs of precious green trees for widening of 889 km highway which will have serious ramifications especially triggering intense landslides in the fragile topography of the region.
