The ₹1,640 Crore Upgrade: Uttarakhand’s Bridge Revolution

The Uttarakhand Public Works Department (PWD) has announced a major infrastructure initiative to upgrade 235 bridges on state highways, aimed at enhancing load-bearing capacity and overall structural resilience. The project, estimated to cost ₹1,640 crore, will span nine districts and also include landslide mitigation works on seven routes. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026.

Of the 585 bridges across 103 state highways, 407 have spans of 10 metres or more, with only 111 currently conforming to Class A loading standards. The upgrade programme will prioritise strengthening critical bridges to accommodate rising civilian traffic while improving defence and logistics preparedness. The project will be financially supported by the Asian Development Bank, and all works will comply with the latest Indian Road Congress (IRC) and Indian Standards (IS) specifications.

PWD Secretary Pankaj Pandey underscored the strategic significance of the initiative, noting that increased tourism and local traffic have placed greater stress on bridges, many of which are 20 to 40 years old. He also highlighted Uttarakhand’s strategic location along the international borders with China and Nepal, stressing the need to enhance load-bearing capacities to meet both civilian and security requirements.

The project will support the expansion of the state’s highway network, including routes linked to the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, which attracted around 50 lakh pilgrims this year. Several bridges in remote border areas, currently classified as Class B with load limits of about 55 tonnes, will be upgraded to Class A standards, enabling them to carry loads exceeding 70 tonnes—essential for the movement of Army tanks, heavy trucks, and equipment.

In addition to structural strengthening, the initiative will include widening single-lane bridges to 1.5- or two-lane configurations, improving traffic flow and safety while reinforcing Uttarakhand’s disaster response and defence readiness.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.