The total cost of ₹12,000 crores and the foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on 27 December 2016 at Parade Ground in Dehradun. The highway will be called Char Dham Mahamarg (Char Dham Highway) and the highway construction project will be called as Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana (Char Dham Highway Development Project) and is made to improve the connectivity to the Chota Char Dham nestled in the Himalayas.[2][3][4][5] Road will include several long bridges and tunnels to eliminate accident and slide prone areas. Indian Railways and National Highways Authority of India have been directed, by the Cabinet Secretary of India, to ensure that rail and road highway routes are integrated on this circuit.[6]
Route alignment
Originating from Rishikesh, Char Dham highway network will have 5 distinct routes,[6]
Yamunotri, NH 94, 95km from Dharasu. State buses go up to Hanuman Chatti (14km from Yamunotri), taxis go all the way to Yamunotri, and lodging is available at dharamshalas and ashrams at Yamunotri.[7]
Rishikesh–Gangotri (same route as previous one till Dharasu). This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Gangotri close to the border area of Nelang Valley .[8][9]
Rishikesh
Dharasu, NH 94, 144km from Rishikesh
Gangotri, NH 108, 124km from Dharasu. Road transport goes up to Gangotri, but the actual source of Ganga is at Gomukh glacier which is another 18+ km trail and requires a minimum of two days.[7]
Gaurikund (trek 12.6km to Kedarnath on foot, by pony or helicopter ride), NH 109, 76km from Rudraprayag, Road transport goes up to Gaurikund.[7]
Rishikesh–Badrinath (same route are previous one till Rudraprayag). This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Badrinath closer to the area of Barahoti .[9][10]
Mana (trek to Badrinath), NH 58, 140km from Rudraprayag, motorable all the way to Badrinath, Tapt Kund ‘hot springs’ is just before the Badrinath Temple.[7]
