Rudraprayag Bypass Begins Trial Vehicle Movement Ahead of Public Opening
Trial vehicle movement has started on the new Rudraprayag bypass, with CM Dhami saying the route will open to the public soon, easing travel toward Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Current Summary
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the newly constructed bridge and tunnel on the Rudraprayag bypass project and said trial vehicle movement had begun, with formal inauguration expected soon. The bypass comprises a 900.30-metre tunnel, a 200-metre bridge over the Alaknanda River and connecting roads, totalling approximately 1.18 km, built at a cost of around Rs 156 crore, and will connect the Kedarnath National Highway (NH-107) with the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07). The project is intended to divert pilgrimage traffic away from Rudraprayag town's congested market. State government figures show 51.06 lakh pilgrims visited the four Char Dham shrines in 2025, up from 46.69 lakh in 2024, with more than 5.1 lakh vehicles reaching the shrine areas; Kedarnath recorded the highest footfall at 17.68 lakh, followed by Badrinath with over 16.6 lakh. No final public opening date has been specified.
What We Know
- Trial vehicle movement has begun on the Rudraprayag bypass.
- CM Dhami inspected the newly built bridge and tunnel on the project.
- The bypass is intended to ease traffic congestion in Rudraprayag town and improve travel toward Badrinath and Kedarnath.
- Public opening is expected soon, according to Dhami.
- Trial vehicle movement has begun on a 900-metre tunnel section of the bypass connecting the Kedarnath and Badrinath national highways.
- The bypass cost approximately Rs 156 crore and comprises a 900.30-metre tunnel, a 200-metre bridge over the Alaknanda River, and connecting roads totalling about 1.18 km.
- It will link the Kedarnath National Highway (NH-107) with the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07).
- 2025 Char Dham pilgrimage saw 51.06 lakh visitors and over 5.1 lakh vehicles, up from 46.69 lakh pilgrims in 2024.
What Is Still Unclear
- The exact date the bypass will open to the public.
What Changed
- 27 Oct, 05:10 amAdditional details have emerged on the Rudraprayag bypass: the project comprises a 900.30-metre tunnel, a 200-metre bridge over the Alaknanda River and connecting roads, totalling about 1.18 km, built at a cost of around Rs 156 crore. It will link the Kedarnath National Highway (NH-107) with the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07). State figures show 51.06 lakh pilgrims visited the four Char Dham shrines in 2025, up from 46.69 lakh in 2024, with more than 5.1 lakh vehicles reaching the shrine areas. Kedarnath recorded the highest footfall at 17.68 lakh, followed by Badrinath with over 16.6 lakh, underlining the traffic pressure the bypass is meant to relieve. CM Dhami said the route would be formally inaugurated soon.
- 27 Oct, 04:32 amA trial has also begun on a 900-metre tunnel forming part of the bypass, connecting the Kedarnath and Badrinath national highways.
- 27 Oct, 01:40 amSignal detected: Rudraprayag Bypass Begins Trial Vehicle Movement Ahead of Public Opening
Background
Rudraprayag is a key transit point during the Char Dham Yatra, and increased vehicle movement during the pilgrimage season puts significant pressure on existing roads through the town.