(a) whether the National Highways from Rishikesh to Gauri Kund and Badrinath Dham has been made fit to the required standard as they were damaged due to natural calamity that took place from 14-16 June, 2013;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor, and the time by which all these National Highways likely to be made fit for taking the normal Yatra load of traffic as per the laid down norms?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a) to (c) Immediately after the natural calamity that struck Uttarakhand in June, 2013, the Border Roads Organization (BRO), being one of the implementing agencies of this Ministry, made all out efforts for immediate restoration and rehabilitation work and the line of communication from Rishikesh to Sonprayag and Mana (near Badrinath Dham) in Uttarakhand were opened for traffic at the earliest possible. At present, NH-58 from Rishikesh to Mana (near Badrinath) and NH-109 from Rudraprayag to Sonprayag is in traffic worthy condition. Section of NH-109 beyond Sonprayag is granular and trafficable for light vehicles only. A small stretch of about 500 m of this National Highway near Garui Kund is open for pedestrian and mules only as there are hard rock strata resulting difficulty in formation cutting.