Dehradun, May 9 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has granted financial sanction of Rs.1,096 crore for various development schemes and key projects related to education, tourism, urban and rural local bodies, and preparations for the Kumbh Mela 2027, officials said on Friday. Under the State Plan, approval has been granted for Rs.9.43 crore for the construction of a bridge over Guruni Nala at Pataliya in Kotabag under Kaladhungi assembly constituency in Nainital district. Another Rs.9.89 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a car parking facility at Mohan Bazar in Mukteshwar under Ramgarh development block. Under the recommendations of the Sixth State Finance Commission, Dhami approved the release of Rs.331.27 crore for urban local bodies. This includes Rs.328.27 crore as the first quarterly installment for April-June of financial year 2026-27 and Rs.3 crore as the first half-yearly installment for April-September for three non-elected bodies. For three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions in 2026-27, approval has been granted for sanction of Rs.352.27 crore. Of this, Rs.82.20 crore has been sanctioned as the first quarterly installment for district panchayats, while Rs.75.46 crore and Rs.194.61 crore have been approved as the first half-yearly installment for block panchayats and gram panchayats, respectively. In the education sector, Rs.80 crore has been sanctioned as the first installment against the total budget provision of Rs.160 crore for payment of salaries of staff working in non-government aided schools under the elementary education department for 2026-27. Similarly, under the secondary education department, approval has been granted for the release of Rs.300 crore, which is 50% of the allocated funds, for the first six months of financial year 2026-27. For preparations related to the Kumbh Mela 2027, the state government has also approved funds under the urban development department for permanent infrastructure works in Haridwar....