Dehradun, Feb 18: The Uttarakhand Housing Department has intensified efforts to expand parking infrastructure across major cities, tourist hubs and pilgrimage centres in the state, aiming to ease traffic congestion ahead of the upcoming travel season.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said parking facilities at 11 new locations will soon become operational, creating space for 1,082 vehicles. The initiative is being executed through various development authorities under the supervision of the Housing Department.
According to official data, proposals for parking development at 195 locations were received from development authorities. Of these, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 114 locations have been approved and the necessary budgets released.
In the first phase of the project, parking facilities at 54 locations have already been completed and made operational, accommodating 3,244 vehicles. The second phase involves construction at 11 additional sites, which is nearly 80 per cent complete and expected to be finalised within the current financial year. These sites will add parking capacity for another 1,082 vehicles.
Additionally, development authorities are independently constructing parking facilities at 11 more locations, which will provide space for 359 vehicles.
Highlighting the broader vision, the Chief Minister said, “Crores of people visit Uttarakhand every year for pilgrimage and tourism.” He added, “With improved road connectivity, more people are now travelling by private vehicles, which naturally leads to traffic congestion.”
Dhami further noted, “Work has been underway over the past four years to create parking facilities for approximately six thousand vehicles,” emphasising that the initiative would significantly help in managing rising vehicular pressure.
Housing Secretary R Rajesh Kumar has directed all development authorities to expedite construction and ensure that parking facilities at identified locations are operational before the upcoming travel season.
“Parking facilities at all identified locations should be made operational before the upcoming travel season,” Kumar said. He also stressed that “proper arrangements for toilets, lighting, and cleanliness must be ensured, and construction quality standards must be strictly followed.”
Over the past four years, the state has planned or developed parking infrastructure for nearly 6,000 vehicles at various locations. Authorities said the expanded facilities, coupled with improved civic amenities, are expected to substantially reduce congestion and improve the travel experience for pilgrims and tourists visiting Uttarakhand.
