DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand cabinet has approved the plan for ‘Tunnel Parking’ to resolve the overgrowing problem of parking vehicles in the hills of Uttarakhand state.
The cabinet also approved the abolition of bylaws which were creating hurdles in the Dehradun-Mussoorie Ropeway project.
The ropeway which aims to cut down the travelling time between Dehradun and Mussoorie from 2 hours to just 15 minutes when completed will be second highest in Asia.
The proposal which was brought up by the state Public Works Department (PWD) suggested the construction of small underground tunnels in the hills and using them as parking lots would be a first-of-its-kind project, said the state government officials.
SS Sandhu, Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand said, “These tunnels will have the capacity to accommodate about 200 cars. Geological surveys would be conducted to check the feasibility of the project before the construction begins.”
The government has also roped in three executing agencies – Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Tehri Hydro Power Development Corporation and Uttarakhand Vidyut Jal Nigam Limited to make the project reality.
The decision was one of the 28 that the state cabinet took on Wednesday.
The cabinet also gave the necessary approval to speed up the Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway project.
The foundation of the ropeway was laid in the year 2019 which has been stuck as the cabinet had not approved the proposed height of the ropeway terminal.
The cabinet has also decided to impose a fee on mobile companies installing their towers in Uttarakhand. An amount of ₹50,000 has been decided to install a tower in areas under development authorities, ₹25,000 Nagar panchayat, ₹10,000 for tower installation in other plain areas and ₹5,000 to install a tower in hills.