*Chief Minister Meets Union Minister; Discusses Rail Connectivity and ‘Digital Kumbh 2027’*
*Kumbh 2027 to Become a ‘Digital Kumbh’; Smart Management to be Powered by AI and IoT Technologies*
*Emphasis Placed on New Projects to Enhance Rail Connectivity from Kumaon to Garhwal*
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and requested expedited action on various key projects aimed at further strengthening rail connectivity within Uttarakhand. On behalf of the people of the state, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude for the cooperation being extended by the Central Government and the Ministry of Railways to ensure improved rail connectivity across the region.
The Chief Minister stated that Uttarakhand is a state of immense significance from strategic, geographical, spiritual, cultural, and tourism perspectives. Citing the successful operation of the RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) between Delhi and Meerut, he noted that the service is providing commuters with a seamless travel experience while saving both time and fuel. Drawing attention to the increasing traffic congestion in Haridwar, Rishikesh, the Char Dham circuit, and other tourist destinations, the Chief Minister emphasized the necessity of extending the RRTS network from Meerut to Haridwar and Rishikesh, and requested prompt action in this regard.
Expressing his satisfaction with the progress of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, the Chief Minister requested that the work on the first phase be completed and inaugurated by the year 2026. He also requested that the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail project be accorded the status of a ‘National Project’ to facilitate the development of the Kumaon region, and sought permission to conduct the Final Location Survey (FLS) for the Bageshwar-Karnaprayag rail project. Furthermore, he requested the approval—following the speedy completion of their Final Location Surveys—for the Doiwala-Uttarkashi and Karnaprayag-Pipalkoti sections under the Char Dham rail project; he also sought approval for the doubling of the Haridwar-Dehradun rail line, the development of the Raiwala Viaduct (Bypass Bridge), and the Mohand-Dehradun-Saharanpur rail line project on a priority basis. The Chief Minister asserted that all these projects are absolutely essential for the balanced and holistic development of Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, that the State Government is undertaking extensive preparations to ensure that Kumbh 2027 is a grand and magnificent event. This time, the objective is to develop the Kumbh as a ‘Digital Kumbh,’ which will entail the widespread utilization of modern technologies. He explained that under the ‘Digital Kumbh’ initiative, the safety of devotees, rapid dissemination of information, crowd management, traffic control, and disaster management will be made more effective through the application of cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that a proposal seeking financial assistance of ₹143.96 crore for the ‘Digital Kumbh’ project has been submitted to the Ministry of Information Technology, Government of India. He requested the Union Minister to take expeditious action regarding this proposal. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of the Central Government, Kumbh 2027 would be successfully organized, equipped with modern technological facilities.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw assured Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami that positive action would be taken regarding the proposals submitted by him.