Uttarakhand PWD to Upgrade 235 Highway Bridges.

The Uttarakhand Public Works Department (PWD) has announced a major project to upgrade 235 bridges on state highways, aiming to enhance load-bearing capacity and overall infrastructure resilience. The initiative, with an estimated expenditure of ₹1,640 crore, will cover nine districts and include landslide treatment on seven routes. Work is scheduled to commence in July 2026.

Out of 585 bridges on 103 state highways, 407 have spans of 10 metres or more, with 111 currently meeting class A loading standards. The upgrade will focus on strengthening critical bridges to accommodate increasing civilian traffic and improve defense and logistics readiness. Financial support for the project will be provided by the Asian Development Bank. All upgrades will adhere to the latest Indian Road Congress and Indian Standards specifications.

PWD Secretary Pankaj Pandey highlighted the strategic importance of the project, stating, “Due to increased tourism and frequent local movement, the load on these structures, most of which are 20 to 40 years old, has risen. Coupled with Uttarakhand’s location along international borders with China and Nepal, it is vital to enhance the load-bearing capacity of these bridges.”

The project also aims to support the expansion of the state’s highway network, including routes connected to the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, which saw around 50 lakh pilgrims this year. Many bridges in remote border areas, previously class B with load limits around 55 tonnes, will be retrofitted to class A standards, allowing them to bear loads over 70 tonnes—critical for Army tanks, trucks, and heavy equipment.

In addition to structural upgrades, the project will include widening of single-lane bridges to 1.5- or 2-lane configurations, improving safety and traffic flow while bolstering Uttarakhand’s disaster and defense readiness.