Rishikesh Rafting Base Station

Key Highlights:

• Foundation stone laid for the iconic Rishikesh Rafting Base Station, to be completed in 2 years at a cost of ₹100 crore.

• Construction begins for a multi-level car parking and office building with a capacity of 1,038 vehicles.

• Various government departments to operate under one roof, easing traffic during the Char Dham Yatra.

• Rafting Base Station to create employment opportunities and boost tourism for local residents.

Rishikesh, 25 April 2025

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone for the iconic Rishikesh Rafting Base Station under the first phase of the Rishikesh Ganga Corridor Project on Friday. This project, stretching from Shivpuri to Muni-ki-Reti, will be completed in two years with central government funding of ₹100 crore. Additionally, the foundation stone was laid for a multi-level car parking and office building in Rishikesh at a cost of ₹136 crore.

Rafting Base Station: A New Center for Tourism and Employment

The construction of the rafting base station will be a major step toward establishing Rishikesh as a global hub for river rafting. The Chief Minister highlighted that:

• The project will include a comfortable station for tourists and a riverside boardwalk.

• Safety measures will feature real-time monitoring, CCTV surveillance, SOS alarms, and emergency assistance stations.

• New employment opportunities will emerge for local people engaged in rafting activities.

The Chief Minister called upon local residents to organize a rafting event with the national flag once a year, creating a spectacular display of patriotism.

Multi-Level Parking and Office Building

This project, to be constructed by the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) on 10,441 square meters of land owned by the Rishikesh Municipal Corporation, includes:

• Parking space for 1,038 vehicles.

• Offices for the Municipal Corporation, Jal Sansthan (Water Institute), and UPCL (Power Corporation) under one roof.

• Facilities such as fire safety systems, modern CCTV, access control systems, rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, elevators, and green spaces.

This development will ease traffic congestion and parking issues during the Char Dham Yatra and provide citizens with access to multiple government services in one location.

Also Read: Discrepancies in School Categorization in Uttarakhand to be Resolved: Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat

Other Inaugurations and Initiatives

• Inauguration of various municipal works worth ₹1.51 crore.

• Distribution of medical kits to environmental workers and traveler kits to tourist guides.

• Inauguration of Hydrogel Waterless Toilets.

Comprehensive Development of Rishikesh

The Chief Minister stated that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand is rapidly advancing.

• The Char Dham Road Project and the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Line will be milestones in the state’s development.

• Yog Nagari Rishikesh Railway Station is being upgraded with world-class amenities under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

• Projects like the ropeway to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, ₹557 crore water supply initiatives, and ₹183 crore sewer line construction are progressing steadily.

Promoting Tourism and Employment

The Chief Minister emphasized that world-class amenities such as rafting facilities, ropeways, and shuttle services will make Rishikesh even more attractive to tourists, thereby increasing business and employment opportunities.

Dignitaries Present

The event was attended by Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, MLAs Premchand Aggarwal and Renu Bisht, Mayor Shambhu Paswan, Principal Secretary Meenakshi Sundaram, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, IG Garhwal Rajeev Swaroop, District Magistrate Savin Bansal, MDDA Vice Chairman Banshidhar Tiwari, and other officials.

Conclusion

The Rishikesh Rafting Base Station and multi-level parking projects will elevate Uttarakhand’s tourism, employment, and infrastructure to new heights. These initiatives will play a crucial role in facilitating the Char Dham Yatra and strengthening the local economy.