Uttarakhand Aims for Year-Round Tourism: Modi Promotes Winter Travel and Infrastructure Development in the Himalayan State

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is championing year-round tourism in Uttarakhand, aiming to eliminate the off-season and boost the state's economy. He highlighted the potential of "Gham Tapo Tourism" (basking in the sun) during winter, when the region enjoys sunlight while other parts of India are shrouded in fog. He urged corporations to host events in Uttarakhand during the winter months. Modi emphasized ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Char Dham all-weather road, expressways, and expanded air and rail services. He also mentioned the approval of the Kedarnath and Hemkund ropeway projects, which will significantly reduce travel times to these pilgrimage sites. The Kedarnath ropeway will cut travel time from 8-9 hours to just 30 minutes. He noted the increase in Char Dham Yatra pilgrims from 1.8 million before 2014 to approximately 5 million annually. The current budget includes provisions to develop 50 tourist destinations, granting hotels infrastructure status. He also highlighted the Vibrant Village Programme, aimed at developing villages along the northern border, and efforts to resettle evacuated villages like Jadung. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized the importance of winter tourism for the state's economic development and job creation.