Dhami Highlights Roads, Tourism and Connectivity Push in Uttarakhand Border Villages

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has highlighted the expansion of roads, telecommunications and tourism initiatives in the state’s remote border regions, saying the improved infrastructure has benefited local communities as well as the armed forces.

Speaking in Dehradun, Dhami referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of border settlements such as Mana not as India’s “last villages” but as its “first villages.”

Modi made the formulation publicly during his visit to Mana in October 2022, saying border villages should be viewed as the starting points of national development rather than remote outposts.

Dhami Highlights Modi’s Visit to Gunji and Adi Kailash

Dhami also recalled Modi’s visit to Gunji village and the Adi Kailash region in Pithoragarh district.

The Prime Minister visited the area in October 2023, performing prayers near Adi Kailash and interacting with residents as well as personnel from the Army, ITBP and Border Roads Organisation.

Dhami said the visit helped draw national attention to the potential of the remote Himalayan region for tourism and strategic development.

Road Connectivity Extended Towards Lipulekh

The Chief Minister said substantial progress had been made in road construction towards the border, including connectivity in the direction of Lipulekh.

He contrasted the present approach with earlier thinking that road construction in border areas could create security vulnerabilities.

Dhami argued that improved roads now strengthen both civilian access and the ability of security forces to move quickly through difficult terrain.

‘First Village’ Approach Changes Border Development

Dhami said the government’s approach represented a shift in how India viewed remote settlements along its international frontier.

The Centre’s Vibrant Villages Programme-I, launched in 2023, covers selected northern-border villages in Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.

The programme supports road connectivity, telecommunications, health and education infrastructure, renewable energy, tourism and livelihood generation.

Uttarakhand currently has 51 priority villages identified under the first phase of the programme.

High-Altitude Runs Used to Promote Border Tourism

Dhami also highlighted high-altitude sporting events as part of efforts to promote tourism and economic activity in remote border areas.

The Adi Kailash Parikrama Run has been organised around Gunji in the Vyas Valley, with participants competing at elevations ranging from roughly 3,200 metres to more than 4,500 metres.

The 2026 edition attracted more than 1,100 registrations from 22 states, with race categories ranging from 5 km to a 70-km ultra marathon.

Gunji Emerging as Adventure Tourism Destination

The event is designed to promote adventure and spiritual tourism around Adi Kailash, Om Parvat and nearby border villages.

Government tourism material says the initiative has also been intended to create economic opportunities for local homestays, restaurants, transport operators and other businesses in the Vyas Valley.

Dhami said the success of such events demonstrated how border infrastructure could support both strategic requirements and local livelihoods.

Malari and Niti Also Part of Tourism Push

The Chief Minister also referred to high-altitude running events involving the Malari and Niti regions in Chamoli district.

A Niti Valley ultra-running event has included routes linking Malari, Niti and Rimkhim at elevations exceeding 4,000 metres, reflecting the state government’s wider strategy of promoting adventure tourism in remote Himalayan settlements.

Such initiatives are intended to increase visitor activity while providing new economic opportunities in areas that have historically experienced migration and limited employment options.

Roads, Bridges and Telecom Connectivity Expanded

Under the Uttarakhand Vibrant Villages programme, infrastructure projects include roads, bridges, telecom links and other public facilities.

As of July 2026, the Centre said 152 projects had been sanctioned in Uttarakhand under VVP-I.

Across the northern border states and Ladakh, 111 road projects worth about ₹2,481.93 crore had been sanctioned to connect previously unconnected villages.

Optical Fibre and Communication Aid Border Communities

Dhami said optical-fibre and telecommunications connectivity had also improved substantially.

The Vibrant Villages framework specifically includes television and telecom connectivity among its core interventions, alongside road infrastructure and livelihood development.

Better communications can support tourism, public services and emergency response while also strengthening connectivity for communities living near the border.

Dhami Says Infrastructure Helps Armed Forces

The Chief Minister said the improved road and communication network had also strengthened the mobility of India’s armed forces.

Modi had similarly said during his Mana visit that widening roads towards border areas would benefit residents while making it easier for soldiers to reach frontier locations.

Dhami said the broader objective was to ensure that villages near the frontier remain populated, economically active and connected rather than becoming isolated settlements.

Vibrant Villages Focuses on Development and Security

The Centre describes the Vibrant Villages Programme as both a development and border-security initiative.

It aims to improve living standards, create sustainable livelihoods and discourage migration from strategically important frontier areas.

The Uttarakhand Vibrant Villages strategy therefore brings together infrastructure, tourism, telecommunications and local economic development while also improving connectivity to strategically significant parts of the Himalayan border region.