3,000 trees to be felled for Rudraprayag road widening

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 28

Over 3,000 trees will be felled for widening of the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund road in Rudraprayag district under the All-Weather Roads Project. 

The 76-km long Rudraprayag-Gaurikund is a key road to reach the Kedarnath shrine. The Public Works Department has been working on a war footing to widen the road. The Rudraprayag district administration has also completed preparations for the payment of compensation to traders and villagers whose land would be acquired for the project. An amount of Rs 57 crore has already been released by the district administration for the payment of compensation in lieu of the land acquired for the widening of the road. The payment of compensation is expected to begin during December.

Nearly 2,000 trees will be felled between Augustmuni and Fata, another 250 trees between Fata and Gaurikunjd, 800 trees between Kund Bypass till Guptkashi and 96 trees will be cut between Rudraprayag Bypass and Augustmuni. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched the All Weather Road Programme for Uttarakhand last year. Improved road connectivity plays a key role in facilitating the pilgrims visiting the state during the Char Dham Yatra. The 889-km all-weather road network covers eight districts of the state and will be built at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore.