A memorandum of understanding was signed between the State’s Eco Tourism Development Corporation and National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) for preparation of detailed project report for construction of Kandi Road between Ramnagar and Kotdwar which passes through the Corbett Tiger Reserve area.
“The focus will be preparing a DPR according to guidelines to enable approval from the Centre to construct a stretch of this road through the tiger reserve landscape and on completing construction within two years of approval,” said the State Forest and Wildlife Minister Harak Singh Rawat.
Addressing the media here on Sunday, Rawat said that the proposal for construction of Kandi Road from Kotdwar in Garhwal to Ramnagar in Kumaon was first made by Public Works Department in 1976.
A portion of this 90 kilometre long road was also constructed but further work was stalled following enforcement of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. He said that presently the route from Kotdwar to Ramnagar passes through Uttar Pradesh.
Using this 172 kilometre road results not only in more expenditure of time and money but also results in payment various taxes for goods being transported to authorities in UP.
Due to this, problems are faced by those travelling from Garhwal to the high court in Nainital, while similar inconvenience is faced by those in Kumaon region travelling to the provisional State capital Dehradun.
Constrution of the Kandi Road will decrease the length of the route by about 82 kilometres and do away with the need for travelling through UP. The minister said that the guidelines of the Wildlife Institute of India will be observed in drafting the DPR for the road as green infrastructure.
Stating that this was the first time when all aspects of this project had been minutely studied and addressed, Rawat expressed confidence that construction of the road will be granted approval. The DPR is expected to be prepared within the current year and after approval, the road is slated to be constructed within a period of two years. Construction of this road at an estimated cost of about Rs2,000 crore would bring about major development and general employment opportunities.
He further said that upon completion, this will be the first ‘green road’ in the country and prove to be an example for other states wanted to construct roads stalled due to forest regulations.
The principal chief conservator of forests Jairaj, additional Chief Secretary Ranveer Singh and other officials were also present on the occasion.