Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand has approved a combined outlay of Rs 93 crore across multiple districts for helipad construction, road upgrades, police housing, tourism infrastructure, and renewable energy subsidies, according to a post by the Chief Minister's Office on 27 July 2026.

Context

The sanction covers a wide spread of districts including Almora, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli. The largest single allocation — Rs 56.29 crore — is earmarked for tourism infrastructure development on PWD and Animal Husbandry land near Goljyu Temple in Almora. This reflects the state's consistent push to leverage religious and cultural sites as anchors for broader tourism investment.

Road improvement works have also been sanctioned: Rs 3.32 crore for reconstruction and improvement of the Gyansoo Gwad Passi Budogi motor road in Tehri Garhwal, and Rs 1.23 crore for widening and interlocking-tile paving of internal roads in the Bhaniyawala displaced area under Doiwala assembly segment in Dehradun.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand has prioritised heliport expansion since at least 2018, recognising that air connectivity is often the only viable emergency access route in remote Himalayan terrain. Under this order, Rs 1.39 crore has been cleared for a new helipad at village Fitadi in Mori block of Uttarkashi, Rs 75.68 lakh for a new helipad at village Bhangla Patti Dogi in Tehri Garhwal, and Rs 46.45 lakh for beautification of an existing helipad at village Kansen Patti Badagaddi in Joshiyada. An ADRF post at Janakichatti in Uttarkashi has received a first instalment of Rs 1.18 crore, strengthening disaster-response capacity in a zone prone to floods and landslides.

On the energy front, Rs 20 crore has been released as the state's matching grant under the central government's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana — a rooftop solar programme administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Uttarakhand has been channelling state-share subsidies to eligible beneficiaries under this scheme since its 2024 national rollout. Separately, Rs 3 crore (first instalment Rs 1.20 crore) has been sanctioned to UJVNL Ltd for a preliminary geothermal energy exploration survey and DPR preparation at identified sites in the Tapovan area of Chamoli district — a signal of the state's interest in diversifying its renewable energy portfolio.

Stakeholders and Impact

Police personnel in Haridwar stand to benefit directly from three housing approvals: Rs 5.76 crore (first instalment Rs 2.31 crore) for 12 Type-II residences at Purana Thana Shyampur; Rs 5.70 crore (first instalment Rs 2.28 crore) for 12 Type-II residences at Kotwali Jwalapur complex; and a first instalment of Rs 1.26 crore for 6 Type-II residences at Thana Bahadrabad complex. Improved police housing is considered a key factor in staff retention and morale in hill postings.

Rural households eligible under PM Surya Ghar will receive subsidised rooftop solar connections, reducing electricity costs for families in remote areas. Tourists and pilgrims visiting Almora and Uttarkashi will see upgraded access infrastructure over the coming plan period. The reconstruction of Rajakiya Inter College Pawki Devi Naicholi Khana and Chamrada Devi — with a first instalment of Rs 1.98 crore against a total of Rs 4.01 crore — will restore educational facilities for local students.

What's Next

CM Dhami also approved renaming the Lwani Suya motor road in Tharali assembly area of Chamoli district after late freedom fighter Shri Khimji, a symbolic gesture alongside the infrastructure push. Physical progress on sanctioned helipads and road stretches is expected to be reviewed at the next state budget session. Utilisation certificates for the solar subsidy tranche and geothermal DPR timelines will be key indicators of how efficiently these funds translate into ground-level delivery across Uttarakhand's challenging terrain.