CM Dhami Announces Roads, Bridges at Jaunsar Bawar Festival
Synopsis
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Jaunsar Bawar Lok Sanskritik Mahotsav-2026 in Nagthat, Dehradun, announcing roads, bridges, drinking-water schemes and tribal welfare measures for the Chakrata region while highlighting 33 years of the cultural festival.
Key Takeaways
CM Dhami attended the Jaunsar Bawar Lok Sanskritik Mahotsav evam Krida Samaroh-2026 at Kedar Singh Stadium, Nagthat, Dehradun on June 8, 2026 .
Multiple road, bridge and drinking-water projects were announced for Vikas Khand Chakrata and Kalsi, including a 60-metre span Yamuna bridge and new PMGSY road proposals.
Of 56 schemes worth Rs 39 crore approved for Chakrata, 51 are complete ; road work worth over Rs 1,300 crore is ongoing across the region.
The New Chakrata Township Hayyo Danda Pumping Scheme is being built at approximately Rs 229 crore to ensure permanent water supply.
128 tribal villages in Uttarakhand have been identified under PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan for road, electricity, water and internet connectivity.
The state provides Rs 50,000 marriage assistance for tribal daughters and has set up a Rs 1 crore corpus fund for the Tribal Research Institute.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Jaunsar Bawar Lok Sanskritik Mahotsav evam Krida Samaroh-2026 at Swatantrata Sangram Senani Shri Kedar Singh Stadium, Nagthat, Dehradun on Monday, June 8, 2026, where he paid floral tribute to freedom fighter Late Shri Kedar Singh and announced a series of infrastructure projects for the tribal region.
Context
The festival, organised by the Jaunsar Bawar Sanskritik Punarutthan Samiti, has been held for 33 consecutive years to preserve the indigenous heritage of the Jaunsar Bawar tribal belt in Dehradun district. CM Dhami described the region as known for its hardworking, simple and self-respecting people, saying its folk culture — including the Raso ki thaap (beats of Raso), Harul ki goonj (resonance of Harul) and the Baund tradition — is a pride not only of Uttarakhand but of the entire country.
Addressing the gathering, Dhami said: 'The folk culture here promotes unity and inspires future generations to stay connected with their roots.'
Infrastructure Announcements
The Chief Minister announced multiple connectivity and development projects for the Jaunsar Bawar and Chakrata area. Key among them are: widening and blacktopping of the Samarjens Motor Road; development of Primary School Nagthat as a model school; a 60-metre span bridge over the Yamuna river on the Bagi-Kheda-Kota-Tapalad route in Vikas Khand Chakrata; and a new motor road from Kyarapul-Damta-Myunda (km 22) to Chamri and Jakhani.
Additional announcements include a motor road from village Sakrol to village Bhoda-Bhalnu and Utel, connecting to the second Siddhapeeth Shri Mahasu Maharaj Thaina; a Yamuna river pumping drinking-water scheme for villages Kheda Ramarka, Kunna and Burashti under Vikas Khand Chakrata; and a road from Jagthan Burayla to village Udanwa to be proposed under PMGSY. A new link road from Dwina to Bisoi Khuna Alman was also announced to strengthen regional connectivity.
Dhami noted that the state government had earlier approved 56 schemes worth approximately Rs 39 crore for Chakrata's development, of which 51 have been completed; the remaining five will be finished shortly. Road-strengthening work worth more than Rs 1,300 crore is under way across the region.
Tribal Welfare and Policy Backdrop
The CM highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several landmark schemes for tribal dignity, education and holistic development are being implemented nationally — including Eklavya Model Residential Schools, PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, Van Dhan Yojana and the PM Janjatiya Vikas Mission. Under PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, 128 tribal villages in Uttarakhand have been identified for transformation through roads, electricity, water and internet connectivity.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools are currently operational in Kalsi, Mehrawana, Bajpur and Khatima, providing free world-class residential education to tribal children. New Eklavya schools are under construction in Bajpur and Chakrata. Scholarships from primary to post-graduate level are being provided to tribal students, and 16 government ashram-pattern schools are also operational.
The state government is providing Rs 50,000 financial assistance for the marriage of daughters from tribal communities. A corpus fund of Rs 1 crore has been established for the Tribal Research Institute.
Key Projects and What's Next
Widening of National Highway 707 and 707A is proceeding on a war footing, and a permanent solution to the landslide problem near Jajred on the Kalsi-Chakrata route is being implemented. The New Chakrata Township Hayyo Danda Pumping Scheme, at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 229 crore, is under way to ensure a permanent water supply for the township.
The state government has also decided to organise an annual Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav (Tribal Sports Festival) to give tribal culture and sports a sustained platform. With the newly announced PMGSY roads, bridges and the Rs 229 crore water scheme in the pipeline, the focus now shifts to timely execution — and whether the five pending Chakrata schemes are closed before the next festival cycle.
The event was attended by MLA Shri Munna Singh Chauhan, former District Panchayat President Smt. Madhu Chauhan, Shri Geeta Ram Gaur, Mela Samiti president Shri Naresh Chauhan, general secretary Shri Narendra Tomar and several other dignitaries.
Point of View
A Yamuna bridge, a Rs 229 crore water scheme and NH widening — signals the state's intent to address the chronic connectivity deficit in the Chakrata-Jaunsar belt ahead of the next electoral cycle. By explicitly linking each state-level initiative to central schemes such as PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan and Eklavya schools, the CM reinforces the BJP's national-to-local narrative on tribal welfare. The decision to institutionalise an annual Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav adds a recurring soft-power dimension to what is otherwise a hard-infrastructure push.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jaunsar Bawar Lok Sanskritik Mahotsav?
The Jaunsar Bawar Lok Sanskritik Mahotsav is an annual cultural and sports festival organised by the Jaunsar Bawar Sanskritik Punarutthan Samiti to preserve the indigenous folk traditions — including Raso, Harul and Baund — of the Jaunsar Bawar tribal region in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand. The samiti has been running the festival for 33 years.
What infrastructure projects did CM Dhami announce at the Jaunsar festival 2026?
CM Dhami announced widening of the Samarjens Motor Road, a 60-metre span Yamuna river bridge on the Bagi-Kheda-Kota-Tapalad route, new motor roads in Chakrata and Kalsi blocks, a pumping drinking-water scheme for Kheda Ramarka-Kunna-Burashti villages, PMGSY road proposals, and a new link road from Dwina to Bisoi Khuna Alman.
What is PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan and how does it apply to Uttarakhand?
PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan is a central government programme for holistic development of tribal villages, covering roads, electricity, water and internet connectivity. In Uttarakhand, 128 tribal villages have been identified under the scheme for comprehensive infrastructure upgrades.
Where are Eklavya Model Residential Schools operating in Uttarakhand?
Eklavya Model Residential Schools are currently operational in Kalsi, Mehrawana, Bajpur and Khatima in Uttarakhand, providing free residential education to tribal children. New schools are under construction in Bajpur and Chakrata.
What is the New Chakrata Township Hayyo Danda Pumping Scheme?
The New Chakrata Township Hayyo Danda Pumping Scheme is a water-supply project being built at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 229 crore to ensure a permanent and adequate water supply for the Chakrata township area in Uttarakhand.
