Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 20 May rolled out several urban development initiatives during the ‘Shahar Se Samvad’ event, while also acknowledging persistent urban challenges such as poor drainage, traffic congestion, and inadequate waste management.
The CM Dhami inaugurated three web portals aimed at supporting women’s self-help groups. These digital platforms, developed by the Urban Development Department, are expected to enhance accessibility and coordination for women engaged in local entrepreneurial and development activities.
Push for Digitisation, Urban Infrastructure, and Skill Training
CM Dhami announced a series of measures to modernise urban governance:
Digitisation of municipal body offices
Establishment of vending zones within urban bodies
Development of Silver Jubilee Parks in multiple cities
Skill development programs to train local youth for high-tech salon and parlour services, with 10 facilities planned per municipal corporation, five per municipality, and three per Nagar Panchayat
He also stated that the state would request the central government to untie the tied urban funds for more flexible use at the local level.
Urban Challenges Acknowledged
While unveiling the initiatives, Dhami said that despite progress, critical urban issues remain unresolved. These include:
Inadequate drainage systems in many towns
Strained waste management mechanisms
Increasing frequency of urban traffic bottlenecks
He stressed the need for local bodies to take a proactive role in addressing these issues and emphasised environmental sustainability as a governance priority.
Reference to National Schemes and State-Level Implementation
The CM pointed to schemes such as Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Smart Cities and PM Awas Yojana as central frameworks guiding urban reforms. He claimed the state has effectively implemented these programs, citing improvements in sanitation and urban housing.
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