Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand met with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and secured his agreement on a series of rail infrastructure proposals for the state, including the early completion of the pending Raiwala-to-Dehradun section under the Haridwar-Dehradun rail line doubling project, along with beautification and expansion of eight key railway stations across Uttarakhand.

According to the post shared by the Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand on 9 July 2026, Railway Minister Vaishnaw gave positive assurances on all proposals presented by the Chief Minister. The post stated, 'mukhyamantri ke anurodh par rail mantri ne ukt prastavon par sahemati pradan ki' — ('the Railway Minister, on the Chief Minister's request, gave his agreement to the said proposals').

Context

The proposals cover two broad areas: first, accelerating the long-pending doubling of the Raiwala-Dehradun stretch, which forms the final segment of the Haridwar-Dehradun rail line capacity augmentation project. Second, the beautification and expansion of eight railway stations — Haridwar, Harrawala, Dehradun, Khatima, Laksar, Roorkee, Tanakpur, and Banbasa.

The Chief Minister also specifically raised the matter of Railway Gate No. 18C on the Khatima-Majhola (Pilibhit) stretch, requesting it be reopened in public interest. The gate's closure has caused hardship for local villagers, farmers, and tourists in the area.

Policy Backdrop

The Raiwala-Dehradun doubling project, spanning approximately 30 kilometres, was sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in 2017-18 as part of the broader Haridwar-Dehradun line capacity augmentation plan. The project has seen delays, and the state government has been pressing the Centre for expedited completion.

The eight stations listed for beautification and expansion align with the national push for station redevelopment, with several stations potentially eligible under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the Centre's flagship programme for upgrading railway stations across India.

Stakeholders and Impact

Reopening Railway Gate No. 18C has direct implications for local farmers and rural residents of the Khatima-Majhola corridor who depend on it for daily movement. The Chief Minister specifically noted that tourists visiting the state government's Crocodile Park — an eco-tourism initiative in the Terai region near Khatima — are also being inconvenienced by the gate's closure.

More broadly, the rail doubling between Raiwala and Dehradun is critical for easing passenger and freight congestion on one of Uttarakhand's most-used rail corridors, which connects the state capital to the plains. Station upgrades at tourism-linked hubs such as Haridwar, Tanakpur, and Dehradun are expected to improve the experience for the millions of pilgrims and tourists who pass through annually.

What's Next

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has given an assurance of 'positive consideration' on all proposals placed before him. The immediate next steps will involve detailed project reports and budget allocations — particularly whether the pending Raiwala-Dehradun section receives fresh funding timelines and whether the listed stations are formally included in a redevelopment scheme.

The reopening of Railway Gate No. 18C will require a formal Railways decision, and the state government is expected to follow up with the Railway Board. If the Centre moves swiftly on these commitments, the upgrades could meaningfully reinforce Uttarakhand's positioning as a premier tourism and pilgrimage destination with improved rail access.