Uttarakhand with its vast natural resource base, large
forest cover and enormous power potential holds the potential of being
one of the most prosperous states in the country. Uttaranchal compares
favourably with the all India aggregates in term of the spread of basic
infrastructural facilities. The creation of infrastructure itself within
the state offers tremendous potential for private investment. For a potentially
power rich state, generation, transmission and distribution of power provides
vast investment opportunities.
Transport
The state has a good transport and communication network.
The state has a total length of 536 km of national highways and 1138 km
of state highways running through it. The length of metalled roads per
lakh of population is higher than the all-India aggregate, though due
to the nature of the terrain the length of metalled roads per thousand
sq. km. of area is relatively lower.
Roadways
The total length of metalled roads in the State is 21,490
Km. The length of PWD roads is 17,772 Km. The length of roads built by
local bodies is 3,925 km.
Railways
The main railway stations are Dehradun, Hardwar, Roorkee,
Kotdwar, Kashipur, Udhamsingh Nagar, Haldwani, Ramnagar and Kothgodam.
Aviation
There are air strips at Jolly Grant (Dehradun) and Pantnagar
(Udham Singh Nagar). Air strips at Naini Seni (Pithoragarh), Gauchar (Chamoli)
and Chinyalisaur (Uttarakashi) are under construction. From this year
Pawan Hans Ltd, has started helicopter service from Rudraprayag to Kedarnath
for pilgrims.
Power
The State has excellent potential for hydropower generation.
There are a number of hydro-electric projects on the rivers of Yamuna,
Bhagirathi, Bhilangana, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Saryu Gauri, Kosi and Kali
generating electricity. Uttarakhand
Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) caters to the electrical distribution
functions in Uttarakhand in all the 13 districts, covering nearly 11.50
lakhs electrical consumers under various categories of domestic, commercial,
agricultural and industrial loads. It is also the first electrical utility
in India to initiate women empowerment by employing local women through
Self Help Groups, as franchisees, for meter reading, bill distribution
and revenue collection. It caters to the power development activities
in the following 13 districts:- Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri
Garhwal, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Hardwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Almora,
Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Champawat.
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