Infrastructure in Uttarakhand takes a big hit

Govt will need at least Rs 10,000 cr for reconstructing damaged roads, bridges in worst affected districts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh

Amid the rising casualty figure in the wake of flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand, the infrastructure in the hill state has taken a big hit.

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna is of view that it will take at least 2-3 years to rebuild the entire infrastructure. “A vast network of roads and bridges has been damaged badly. It will take 2-3 years to rebuild the entire infrastructure which was damaged,” the chief minister said even as the relief and rescue operation continued despite inclement weather due to intermittent rains in the hills today.

Initial assessment is that the government will need at least Rs 10,000 crore for reconstructing the damaged roads and bridges in the worst affected districts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh.

However, the government is still to make an assessment and send a report to the centre for a comprehensive package. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had already announced a package of Rs 1,000 crore after making an aerial survey of the affected areas this week.

According to the state government, nearly 147 bridges have been washed away completely in the state. Over 1300 roads in different locations have suffered extensive damage that blocked connectivity to most of the places in the four districts.

“It will be an uphill task for us to reconstruct our road network which stands shattered in the heavy rains and floods,” said state disaster management minister Yashpal Arya.

The main worry before the state government is that it has not yet started focusing on the local villages in the four districts which have also suffered extensive damages. “Our first focus is to save all those who are still stranded. After this, we will focus on the local problem,” said a top government official.  

A massive road rehabilitation programme has already been taken up by the Border Road Organization (BRO) in the state. The BRO has already pressed nearly 4,000 men into action at various areas with bulldozers and other equipments.

The big challenge before the BRO men will be to restore roads and bridges in the highly fragile zones of Gangotri and Badrinath areas where landslides are frequent during the monsoon. “Every year, these roads suffer huge damages and are rebuilt but this time the loss is enormous,” said a BRO official. The first task will be to restore connectivity of the roads of the Chardham yatra circuit which may take 1-2 year, the official added.

Besides roads and bridges, a series of under-construction hydel projects have also been damaged in Rudraprayag area which belong to companies like L&T Hydro, Lanco Group and UJVN Ltd. Scores of hotel buildings particularly in Uttarakashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts have been destroyed completely.

A couple of rest houses run by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) and Kumaon Mandal Vikash Nigam (KMVN) have suffered extensive damages, said A K Dwivedi, joint director of the state tourism department. “The losses of tourism sector are immense and it will take a long time to assess the situation,” said Tourism minister Amrita Rawat.