Dehradun, June 19, 2026 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday held a detailed meeting with Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar at the Chief Minister’s residence, focusing on railway infrastructure expansion, ongoing projects and the state’s future rail requirements. The discussions centered on strengthening rail connectivity to support tourism, pilgrimage, investment and long term economic growth in Uttarakhand.
Dhami said improved railway connectivity would give fresh momentum to the state’s overall development and make travel easier for devotees, tourists and residents. He described the Rishikesh Karnaprayag rail project as one of Uttarakhand’s most ambitious and strategically important projects and stressed that it should be completed within the तय time frame. According to him, the line will greatly improve access for pilgrims visiting Badrinath and Kedarnath by making travel safer, smoother and more modern.
The meeting also covered the Tanakpur Bageshwar rail project, for which the Railway Board chairman informed that the survey and detailed project report have already been prepared. Dhami urged that visible progress should be made by November 2026. He also pressed for action on the proposed Karnaprayag Bageshwar rail line and Kichha Khatima rail line, saying both are important for future needs and balanced regional development.
The chief minister said major railway stations in the state must be upgraded with modern passenger amenities as pilgrimage and tourism traffic continues to rise. He identified Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Roorkee in Garhwal, along with Haldwani, Kathgodam, Ramnagar and Tanakpur in Kumaon, as key gateways to Uttarakhand. He emphasized the need to expand facilities and modernize these stations to handle growing footfall.
Dhami also called for special arrangements at Haridwar, Rishikesh and Roorkee stations ahead of the upcoming Kumbh and Kanwar melas, given the expected surge in passengers. He said coordinated action between the Railways and the state government could provide devotees and travellers with a safer and more comfortable journey.
The chief minister further highlighted the need for doubling the Haridwar Dehradun rail line. He said railway expansion and modernization would create new opportunities in investment, trade, tourism and employment while giving a lasting boost to Uttarakhand’s economy.
Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar said the points discussed in the meeting would be taken up with full seriousness. Senior officials Brijesh Kumar Sant and Reena Joshi were also present.
