Construction work on the second phase of the Rudraprayag bypass project—crucial for the Char Dham Yatra—has finally been completed. With construction finished about a month ago and essential technical tests, including load testing of the bridge, successfully concluded, the project now awaits its formal inauguration.
There is speculation that the bypass could be inaugurated between October 20 and 25 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath. However, no final official decision regarding the Prime Minister’s schedule or the inauguration has been made yet.
**900-Meter-Long Tunnel**
Under the second phase of the bypass project, a tunnel approximately 900 meters long and a motorable bridge spanning about 190 meters over the Alaknanda River have been constructed. Inside the tunnel, road construction along with electrical systems, ventilation, safety equipment, and other necessary works have been completed. The bridge construction is also finished, and departmental load testing and other technical trials have been conducted.
The project took significantly longer than originally scheduled to complete. Initially, the target was to have it ready before the 2025 Char Dham Yatra. Subsequently, deadlines were set for September 2025, then before the 2026 Char Dham Yatra, and finally for August 15, 2026.
The deadline kept shifting. Eventually, the department set a new target of August 31, 2026, for completion, by which time the construction work was finalized.
**Continuous Monitoring of Project Progress**
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra also continuously monitored the project’s progress. He inspected the construction site and instructed the concerned agency to accelerate the work and ensure completion within the deadline while maintaining quality standards. Following the administration’s oversight, the pace of construction picked up, and the project is now fully ready. The opening of the bypass is expected to bring significant relief to Rudraprayag town from the traffic congestion that typically occurs during the Char Dham Yatra season. Currently, the heavy volume of vehicles bound for Badrinath and Kedarnath passes through the town, leading to traffic jams that can last for hours during the pilgrimage season. Once the bypass becomes operational, a large portion of this external traffic will be diverted away from the town center, benefiting both local residents and pilgrims arriving from across the country and abroad.
The Central Government had approved the Rudraprayag bypass project in 2003-04, taking into account the region’s geographical conditions and traffic load. However, the project remained stalled for a long period after the completion of the first phase because the budget for the second phase was not sanctioned.
**Cost: ₹156 Crore**
Approval for the second phase was granted in 2021, and construction began in December 2022 at a cost of approximately ₹156 crore. Now that construction is complete, all eyes are on its formal inauguration.
“The work on the Rudraprayag bypass project is complete; the inauguration is expected to take place during the Prime Minister’s likely visit to Rudraprayag. It will benefit local residents as well as pilgrims visiting Char Dham.” – Omkar Pandey, Executive Engineer, National Highways.
