The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, that a motor road from Khajurkhal to Bhandarikhod in Gairsain development block, Chamoli district, has been completed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Context

The official post stated: 'Mukhyamantri Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ke netritva mein Uttarakhand mein Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana ke tahat Chamoli janpad ke vikas khand Gairsain mein Khajurkhal se Bhandarikhod tak motor sadak ka nirman pura ho gaya hai' — meaning, 'Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in Uttarakhand, the construction of a motor road from Khajurkhal to Bhandarikhod in Gairsain development block of Chamoli district has been completed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.' The announcement marks another milestone in the state government's ongoing push to improve last-mile connectivity in Uttarakhand's mountainous terrain.

Policy Backdrop

PMGSY is a flagship central scheme launched in December 2000 to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations across India. In hilly states like Uttarakhand, the scheme targets habitations with populations as low as 250 persons, reflecting the acute connectivity challenges posed by mountainous topography. Successive phases of the programme have prioritised difficult terrains, and Uttarakhand has been a consistent beneficiary given the chronic isolation of its remote blocks. Gairsain, the development block where this road lies, holds particular political and administrative significance: it has long been proposed as Uttarakhand's summer capital owing to its central location within the state. Chamoli district, situated in the Garhwal region, is also frequently affected by landslides and natural disasters, making durable all-weather road links a matter of both economic and safety importance for local communities.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the newly completed road are rural villagers in the Khajurkhal–Bhandarikhod corridor, who previously faced restricted mobility, particularly during monsoon and winter months when unmetalled tracks become impassable. Improved road access is expected to ease the movement of agricultural produce, reduce travel time to markets and health facilities, and support local livelihoods in one of Uttarakhand's more remote highland zones. For the Dhami government, the completion represents a deliverable under a centrally funded programme that the state administration has actively implemented. Chamoli district, which gained national attention following the 2021 Chamoli disaster, has been a focus area for infrastructure rehabilitation and resilience-building, and road connectivity forms a core component of that broader effort.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the rollout of remaining PMGSY phases across Uttarakhand, including stretches in other remote development blocks of Chamoli and neighbouring districts. The state government is also expected to address questions around long-term maintenance funding for newly built roads in landslide-prone zones. Any integration of this connectivity with Chamoli's growing tourism infrastructure — particularly routes linked to pilgrimage and adventure circuits — will be closely watched by both policymakers and local stakeholders.