Question : EXISTENCE OF GANGA CANAL WITH TWO ROADS

(a) whether the Government are aware of the manifold increase in traffic on the Delhi- Hardwar-Dehradun- Mussoorie route ;

(b) if so, whether the Government are aware of the existence of the Ganga Canal with two roads running along its banks throughout;

(c) the tourist potential of developing these roads on either side of the canal both to decongest the present overused Highway as well as to encourage tourism;

(d) whether the Government are considering for taking over and developing this alternate route; and

(e) if not, the reasons thereof ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SURFACE TRANSPORT

(DR. DEBENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) Yes , Sir. Delhi- Hardwar-Rishikesh-Badrinath is NH-58, whereas Rishikesh-Dehradun is NH-72. However, Dehradun-Mussoorie, is not a National Highway.

(b) Yes Sir. These two roads are service roads of the Irrigation Department under the Government of Uttar Pradesh and do not from part of the National Highway network.

(c) These Canal roads fall under the jurisdiction of the State Government of Uttar Pradesh for their development . As such Central Government is not concerned with the same.

(d) & (e) There is no proposal of taking over these roads as National Highways.