Dehradun, April 15 -- Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said projects worth nearly Rs.1.3 lakh crore are currently underway in Uttarakhand in assistance of the central government, while outlining details of major infrastructure initiatives in the hill state. Speaking during the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Dehradun, Gadkari said the project will provide a new impetus to development in the hill state. "With the assistance of the central government, work is currently in progress on projects worth approximately Rs.1,30,000 crore in Uttarakhand," Gadkari said. He added that a 51-km six-lane road stretch from Saharanpur bypass to Haridwar is scheduled to be inaugurated in June. Similarly, the four-lane road connecting Paonta Sahib to Dehradun, constructed at a cost of Rs.1,650 crore, is expected to become operational next month. He said the "first phase of the four-lane Greenfield bypass in Haridwar, costing Rs.1,600 crore, is slated for completion by October 2026 and is expected to ease traffic congestion for travellers heading to Haridwar and Rishikesh". The Centre has also approved the Rishikesh bypass project, estimated at Rs.1,100 crore, with work expected to begin by August, he said. Gadkari said the 21-km-long four-lane bypass in Rudrapur, being built at a cost of Rs.1,050 crore, is scheduled for completion by October this year, while the 15-km-long four-lane bypass in Kashipur, costing Rs.936 crore, is likely to be completed by December 2026. He added that "a 12-km four-lane elevated road connecting Dehradun, Jhajra and Asharodi, built at a cost of Rs.716 crore, is expected to be completed by April next year". The 20-km four-lane road from Bhaniawala and Jolly Grant to Rishikesh, costing Rs.745 crore, is targeted for completion by April 2028. A detailed project report (DPR) is also being prepared for two-lane bypass in Srinagar, Pauri at an estimated cost of Rs.800 crore, he said. Referring to pilgrimage routes, Gadkari said a road from Tanakpur to Lipulekh Pass via Pithoragarh is being constructed at a cost of Rs.5,200 crore to facilitate travel for pilgrims visiting Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Of the 370-km project, work on nearly 200 km has already been completed, he said. He said that under the Rs.12,000-crore Char Dham Road Project, about 640 km of the total 825-km stretch has already been completed. Work on the road between Rudraprayag and Gaurikund, estimated at Rs.1,300 crore, is expected to start by December 2026, he said. He said for the route to Gangotri Dham, work on 142 km has been completed while the remaining 100 km is being executed in phases. "On the Yamunotri Dham route, the 46-km stretch from Dharasu has been completed at a cost of Rs.2,500 crore, and the remaining 30 km is expected to be finished by April 2028", he said. Gadkari also said the Central government is working on ropeway projects connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, along with several tunnel projects across the state. Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state and said that each of his visits brings renewed momentum for development. Dhami said the newly-inaugurated Corridor has gifted Uttarakhand Asia's longest elevated wildlife corridor and will significantly boost connectivity and economic growth in the region. Dhami added that the PM had described the third decade of the 21st century as the "decade of Uttarakhand" and highlighted initiatives such as declaring Mana village as the "first village of the nation", promoting the message of "Wed in Uttarakhand", and boosting winter tourism in Harsil and Mukhba. Earlier during the ceremony, Dhami presented the PM Modi with a commemorative memento inspired by the Nanda Raj Jaat Yatra, featuring artistic depictions of the palanquin of Maa Nanda, the Khadu (sacrificial ram) leading the procession and devotees participating in the pilgrimage....