CM Dhami Inspects Dehradun Science City, Launches Vigyan Setu Initiatives
Synopsis
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the Dehradun Science City project at UCOST on 13 July 2026, launched three Vigyan Setu outreach initiatives including community radio Vigyan Vaani at 88.8 MHz, announced a campus startup centre, and declared 28 November as Uttarakhand Disaster Management Day.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected construction at Dehradun Science City within the UCOST campus on 13 July 2026 and said work is progressing rapidly.
Three Vigyan Setu initiatives were launched: community science radio Vigyan Vaani (88.8 MHz) , Vigyan Drishyam and Vigyan Dhara to take science knowledge to remote communities.
The chief minister announced allocation of UCOST campus land for a new Startup Centre .
Uttarakhand's first Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) has already been notified, aligning state R&D with the Viksit Bharat 2047 national roadmap.
The Silkyara tunnel rescue (2023) was cited as a BRICS-recognised best practice; 28 November declared annual Disaster Management Day in Uttarakhand.
State expansion plans include STEM Labs , Labs on Wheels , AI, robotics, drone and semiconductor pre-incubation facilities across districts.
The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Monday, 13 July 2026 that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected construction progress at the Dehradun Science City project within the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) campus and participated in the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) consultative programme. At the event, he launched three new science-outreach initiatives under the Vigyan Setu (Science Bridge) concept and announced that land on the UCOST campus will be allocated for a dedicated startup centre.
Context
Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami declared that construction of the Dehradun Science City is advancing rapidly. He said the facility will, in the coming years, emerge as a 'leading centre of science, innovation and research — not just for Uttarakhand but for students, researchers and scientists across the entire country.' The chief minister added that the city will provide youth with state-of-the-art facilities that 'give new wings to their dreams and ideas.'
At the same event, Dhami launched three initiatives under the Vigyan Setu framework: community science radio 'Vigyan Vaani' broadcasting on 88.8 MHz, the visual-science platform 'Vigyan Drishyam', and the science-outreach channel 'Vigyan Dhara'. He said these efforts will help carry 'complex laboratory knowledge to the last person standing at the farthest corner of Uttarakhand.'
Policy Backdrop
The event is anchored in Uttarakhand's first Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP), which the state government has already notified, aligning state research-and-development priorities with the national Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. CM Dhami noted that PM Modi expanded the national slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan' by adding 'Jai Anusandhan' (Long live research), giving scientists and youth 'a new mantra.'
The chief minister outlined a broad technology agenda, citing robotics, Artificial Intelligence, data science, drone technology, semiconductors and biotechnology as frontier sectors shaping the world. He said the state is expanding science-and-innovation centres, Labs on Wheels, digital libraries, patent information centres, STEM Labs and GIS-based technology systems across districts, alongside pre-incubation labs for emerging technologies.
The programme coincided with the ongoing Harela Week in Uttarakhand. Dhami described Harela — a traditional Kumaoni festival centred on sowing and tree plantation — as not merely a festival but a 'pratik parv' (symbolic celebration) of 'our faith in nature, our commitment to environmental conservation and our responsibility to future generations.' He said the festival sends the world a message that 'development and nature can walk together,' particularly relevant as the globe grapples with climate change and global warming. The chief minister also planted saplings on the UCOST premises.
Silkyara Recognition and Disaster Management Day
Referencing the Silkyara tunnel rescue of 2023 — in which 41 trapped workers were brought out safely — Dhami noted that the operation was presented as a best practice at a BRICS nations' conference and that several Indian states now regard Uttarakhand as a model in multiple domains. He announced that the state government has decided to observe 28 November every year as Disaster Management Day to institutionalise the lessons from that operation.
The event was attended by Cabinet Minister Pradeep Batra, Sahaspur MLA Sahdev Singh Pundir, Secretary Nitesh Jha, UCOST Director General Prof. Durgesh Pant, Media Advisory Committee Chairman Prof. Govind Singh, vice-chancellors of various universities, departmental heads and scientists.
What's Next
The immediate watch points are the completion timeline and first-phase operationalisation of the Dehradun Science City, the rollout of the new Startup Centre on the UCOST campus whose land allocation was announced at the event, and the district-level expansion of STEM labs and patent information centres. The reach and listenership of Vigyan Vaani at 88.8 MHz will be an early indicator of whether the Vigyan Setu outreach model can bridge the science-communication gap in Uttarakhand's remote hill districts.
Point of View
These moves position Uttarakhand as a sub-national actor that is actively shaping, not merely implementing, India's Viksit Bharat 2047 science narrative.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dehradun Science City project?
The Dehradun Science City is an upcoming science, research and innovation hub being developed under the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST). CM Dhami has said it will serve students, researchers and scientists from across India once operational.
What is Vigyan Vaani and on which frequency does it broadcast?
Vigyan Vaani is a community science radio station launched under the Vigyan Setu initiative by CM Dhami on 13 July 2026. It broadcasts on 88.8 MHz and aims to carry scientific knowledge to remote communities in Uttarakhand.
What is Uttarakhand's Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP)?
Uttarakhand's STIP is the state's first dedicated science and innovation policy, already notified by the government. It aligns state research priorities with the national Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and covers areas such as AI, robotics, drones, semiconductors and biotechnology.
Why is 28 November observed as Disaster Management Day in Uttarakhand?
CM Dhami announced that the state will observe 28 November every year as Disaster Management Day to mark and institutionalise lessons from the 2023 Silkyara tunnel rescue, in which 41 trapped workers were evacuated safely — an operation later recognised as a best practice at a BRICS conference.
What is the Vigyan Setu initiative?
Vigyan Setu, meaning 'Science Bridge,' is a concept under which Uttarakhand launched three outreach platforms — Vigyan Vaani (community radio), Vigyan Drishyam (visual science) and Vigyan Dhara (science outreach channel) — to make laboratory knowledge accessible to the last person in the state's remotest corners.
