MoRTH approves ₹4,125-cr projects including a tunnel in U'khand

In a bid to decongest main cities in Uttarakhand, the Union transport ministry gave in-principle approval for the construction of a 2.74-km tunnel to be built in Mussoorie at a cost of ₹450 crore and other road projects worth ₹4,125 crore. The tunnel would start from Cart Mckenzie Road and culminate at the Kempty Fall Road. They also gave a nod for five other projects for building an elevated road and broadening stretches in the state at a cost of ₹3,675 crore. The tunnel would ensure that the vehicles going towards Kempty Fall, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Jaunpur and Uttarkashi do not pass through Gandhi Chowk, avoiding traffic volumes. CM called upon the Centre's in-principle approval to the project an achievement to end the traffic woes of Mussoorie. The five other projects, which have received approval, are an elevated 7.5- km-long by-pass route worth ₹750 crore at Srinagar, two-laning of Kotdwar-Srinagar route at a cost of ₹850 crore, two-way lane on Badkot-Balawala route of 96-km for ₹775 crore, 208-kilometre-long lane from Rameshwar to Almora worth ₹750 crore, and 64- km-long stretch on Pandwakhal-Gairsain-Bhararisain route worth ₹390 crore.