Uttarakhand Politics & Governance

Udham Singh Nagar launches AI-based grievance portal

1 February 2026

The Udham Singh Nagar District Development Authority launched an AI-enabled website for digital complaint registration and tracking. The system assigns a unique ID and can read, categorise and route uploaded handwritten complaints; officials said complaints could reach the relevant department and officer within 90 seconds.

The authority is also testing automated AI calls to give Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana beneficiaries information on instalments, payment deadlines and next steps. Officials said the system could reach about 10,000 beneficiaries in five minutes.

Key Facts

• PMAY has urban and rural components, administered respectively by the Union housing and rural development ministries.

Rebuilt Kedarnath footpath planned to reopen in 2026

1 February 2026

Reconstruction of the Ram Bara–Garud Chatti–Kedarnath footpath was reported complete, with railings and visitor facilities still nearing completion. The route was planned to reopen for the 2026 pilgrimage season, providing a second walking option alongside the existing route via Lincholi.

The rebuilt path includes a 3.3-km Kedarnath–Garud Chatti section and a 5.3-km Garud Chatti–Ram Bara section. The distance from Ram Bara to Kedarnath is reported as 8.6 km.

Key Facts

• Kedarnath is both a Chota Char Dham destination and the first site in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage.

Union Budget proposes mountain trails and trauma centres

1 February 2026

The Union Budget 2026–27 proposed ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Uttarakhand and other identified hill regions to support trekking and hiking. The proposal was presented as a way to develop tourism while taking ecological sustainability into account.

The Budget coverage also reported a proposal for emergency trauma centres in all districts. These were announcements, not completed projects.

Key Facts

• The proposed mountain trails aim to protect natural resources, vegetation and biodiversity.

Uttarakhand seeks pending funds for Har Ghar Jal

1 February 2026

Uttarakhand reported that 9,507 villages, or 63.47% of the target, had been connected under the Har Ghar Jal programme. The state said ₹3,289.69 crore remained due from the Centre and was seeking release of the funds to complete the work.

June 2026 was the programme’s stated completion target. The state also reported that contractors had completed work for which payment was still pending.

Key Facts

• Har Ghar Jal aims to provide rural households with regular, long-term tap water at 55 litres per person daily.
• The mission’s funding formula assigns 90% to the Centre and 10% to Himalayan state governments.

Second phase of Garjiya Temple mound protection work advances

1 February 2026

The second phase of protection work on the Garjiya Temple mound in Ramnagar is under way at an estimated cost of about ₹12 crore. It is intended to strengthen river-facing sections, areas sliding downhill and loose blocks; officials directed that the retaining wall reach the highest flood level before the monsoon, with plotting and other supporting work to follow afterwards.

Key Facts

• Garjiya Devi Temple stands on a rock in the Kosi River, making protection of the mound important to the shrine’s setting.

Dehradun cancels road-cutting permit after violations

2 February 2026

Dehradun district administration cancelled permission for road cutting linked to underground cable work at ISBT Crossing and Saharanpur Road in Majra after an inspection found permit-condition violations. The work at the affected sites was prohibited pending further orders, and the agency was directed to restore the roads; officials warned that non-compliance could lead to legal action.

Union Budget allocates ₹4,769 crore for railway works in Uttarakhand

2 February 2026

The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated ₹4,769 crore for railway works in Uttarakhand. The report cited ₹39,491 crore in railway projects under way in the state and said 11 stations had been selected for redevelopment under the Amrit Stations scheme, with a total investment of ₹147 crore.

Key Facts

• The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme redevelops stations in phases through master plans, improving passenger facilities, city connectivity and multimodal integration.

Uttarakhand launches online training portal for construction workers

2 February 2026

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Training Management System portal developed by the Uttarakhand Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. It is designed to manage skill training for registered workers and their dependants, including online selection of providers and assessors, and digital attendance and ...