Rudrapur: In line with the directives of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, urban housing and development projects are being accelerated across Uttarakhand. As part of this initiative, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, Secretary of Housing and State Property, visited the Rudrapur assembly constituency and conducted an on-site inspection of major ongoing and proposed projects of the Development Authority. He issued strict instructions to officials to ensure all projects are completed in a time-bound, high-quality, and transparent manner.
The inspection began in the Bagwala area, where 1,872 housing units are being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) at a cost of approximately Rs 156 crore. Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar reviewed the housing units in detail and expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction. He stated that these units will be inaugurated soon and keys will be handed over to eligible beneficiaries.
The Secretary directed officials to immediately start the process of collecting pending contributions from beneficiaries who have not yet deposited their share so that the allotment process can be expedited.
The Vice Chairman of the Development Authority informed the Secretary that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Central Government provides Rs 3 lakh per unit as assistance, while the beneficiary also contributes Rs 3 lakh. So far, 185 beneficiaries have deposited the full amount, while 222 beneficiaries have been notified through letters and phone calls to make the payment.
Cleanliness, beautification, plantation, and landscaping work is progressing rapidly in the Bagwala housing complex. The testing of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) installed in the premises has also been successfully completed. During the inspection, the Secretary instructed officials to identify suitable land for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 2.0.
Following this, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar inspected 6.5 acres of land belonging to the Public Works Department near Trishul Chowk, where a multi-storey modern residential and commercial project named ‘Kumaun Commercial Kutir’ is proposed. Officials informed him that the preliminary Detailed Project Report (DPR) of this ambitious project has already been sent to the government.
The Secretary described the project as strategically very important and said it would give new momentum to the economic development of the area. Modern shopping complexes, office spaces, and residential units are proposed here, which will create new opportunities for local trade and employment.
He also conducted an on-site inspection of the proposed Transport Nagar project located on Rampur Road. This project will be developed over 48 acres of land. The preliminary DPR for the project, with an estimated cost of Rs 72 crore, has been sent to the government.
Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said, “Once the Transport Nagar is developed, people associated with the transport business such as truck operators, transport agents, and related businessmen will get parking, warehouses, offices, repair shops, and other facilities at one place. This will improve traffic management and strengthen the regional economy.”
During the inspection, the Secretary also reviewed the proposed road widening work from Trishul Chowk to Medical College. He described the road as extremely important from a traffic point of view and directed officials to complete it on time. Additionally, he inspected the under-construction Development Authority office building in the Collectorate premises and instructed officials to speed up the work while maintaining quality.
Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, Secretary of Housing and State Property, said, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government is fully committed to providing better housing facilities to common citizens, especially the weaker sections. The 1,872 PMAY houses built in Bagwala are almost ready. Our priority is to ensure that eligible beneficiaries get the benefit of these houses as soon as possible.”
He further stated that quality, transparency, and timeliness are being ensured in all projects. Initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 2.0, Transport Nagar, and Kumaun Commercial Kutir are being prepared keeping in mind future needs, which will give a new direction to the urban development of Rudrapur and the entire Udham Singh Nagar district.
