Close to 150 Citizens from Dehradun and Mussoorie write to Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari demanding Halt to Proposed Rispana–Bindal Elevated Road Project

Dehradun

Strong opposition has emerged against the proposed Rispana–Bindal Elevated Road project, with 146 citizens from Dehradun and Mussoorie sending a signed letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. The signatories, associated with Dehradun Citizens Forum and other citizen groups, include professionals, retired officials, writers, academicians, traders, social and environmental activists, and residents from diverse backgrounds.

While expressing support for development in principle, the citizens have urged an immediate halt to the proposed 26-kilometre elevated road, citing 21 serious concerns. The letter states that Dehradun is already grappling with unplanned growth, local traffic congestion and ecological stress, and that the project would aggravate environmental, geological, legal, social and economic risks rather than resolve them.

Highlighting seismic vulnerability, the letter notes that Dehradun lies between the Main Boundary Thrust and Himalayan Frontal Thrust and is now classified under the highest seismic risk category in recent BIS maps. The Rispana and Bindal rivers flow through loose sand, gravel and silt, which could liquefy even during moderate earthquakes, posing grave risks to the stability of elevated pillars and nearby habitations.

Referring to flash floods on September 15–16 this year, citizens warned that construction over riverbeds would obstruct its natural flow, increasing flood risks in low-lying areas such as IT Park, Dalanwala, Race Course and Inder Road. The letter also flags loss of groundwater recharge, rising urban heat, deteriorating air quality and damage to riverine ecosystems, recalling that Dehradun recorded temperatures as high as 43°C during the extreme summer of 2024.

Serious procedural lapses have also been pointed out. Citizens state that no Detailed Project Report (DPR), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), project maps or clear data on displacement have been made public. Allegations have been made that mandatory public hearings lacked official video recording and proper documentation, and that citizens attempting to raise concerns faced intimidation, as reported in the media.

According to the letter, nearly 3,000 families living along the riverbanks face displacement without any clear rehabilitation plan, despite decades of residence and regular payment of taxes and utility bills. Livelihoods of small shopkeepers and informal workers along the rivers would also be severely affected.

The escalating project cost has raised further alarm. The estimated cost has reportedly risen from ₹4,500 crore to ₹6,200 crore even before construction, and may eventually exceed ₹8,000–10,000 crore. Citizens argue this reflects poor planning and fiscal imprudence. In contrast, they cite the Comprehensive Mobility Plan–2024 prepared by Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation, which recommends electric buses, ropeways, improved use and widening of existing roads, and pedestrian-friendly zones instead of building large elevated corridors.

The letter asserts that the elevated road will not resolve Dehradun’s local traffic congestion and will instead create huge bottlenecks at Mussoorie Diversion points while offering no relief to key city areas such as Saharanpur Chowk, Balliwala, Ballupur, Survey Chowk, Araghar and other major intersections.

Citizens have urged the government to pursue an alternative vision focused on blue-green corridors, river restoration, effective public transport , enhanced public parking , walking and cycling infrastructure, and tree buffers, rather than concrete-heavy interventions.

The signatories to the letter include, from Dehradun, Anoop Nautiyal, Anish Lal, Bharti Jain, Jagmohan Mehndiratta, Ramana Kumar, Retu Chatterjee, Dr. Umesh Kumar, Ajai Dayal, Florence Pandhi , Abhinav Thapar, Dr. Arunjeet Dhir, Kiran Kapoor, Radha , Madhunjali, Aradhna Nagarath , Radhesh Lal and from Mussoorie; Ganesh Saili, Col. Das, Hardeep Mann, Manmohan Karnwal, Prasenjit Singh Roy, Tulika, Rashmi, Shailendra Karnwal, Sunil Prakash, Anil Prakash, Vinod Kumar Agrawal, Tania Bakshi and Rahul Karnwal among others. In addition, several other residents from different localities of Dehradun and Mussoorie have also signed the letter.