Pushkar Singh Dhami government seeks over Rs 8,800 crore for energy, housing projects from centre

NEW DELHI: The Uttarakhand government has sought financial assistance of over Rs 8,800 crore from the Centre for a series of key infrastructure and housing initiatives aimed at boosting energy production and urban development in the state.In a meeting on Monday with union minister for power and housing and urban affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami requested Rs 4,000 crore as viability gap funding (VGF) for hydroelectric projects in the Kumaon and Upper Yamuna regions and Rs 3,800 crore VGF for pump storage projects in remote and hilly areas. These projects are aimed at enhancing energy capacity and promoting local development.The CM also sought Rs 1,007.82 crore under the Power System Development Fund for two major transmission projects of state utility Pitkul, requesting full central funding for the same. Additionally, Dhami urged the undergrounding and automation of electricity lines in the Haridwar-Rishikesh region to reduce disruptions in the power network of this high-footfall pilgrimage zone.On the urban development front, Dhami flagged implementation challenges in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), particularly the cash flow issues arising from lump-sum central assistance. He requested that the phased assistance model (40:40:20), currently applicable to government land projects, also be extended to private land-based initiatives. He further sought clear guidelines for banks and NBFCs to ease credit access for EWS beneficiaries.The CM also urged an extension of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) from Modipuram Meerut Road to Haridwar to improve connectivity and economic growth in the state.