Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone of the Sharda river corridor at Tanakpur in Champawat district, launching a major infrastructure and tourism development plan for the region. The project is designed to strengthen religious tourism, local livelihoods and cultural development in the border district of Uttarakhand.
Project Scope and Investment
The Sharda corridor will cover nearly 200 sq km of Champawat district. The total proposed investment is about Rs 3,300 crore across multiple components. The plan aims to improve connectivity, public facilities and tourism-linked infrastructure in the region.
First Phase Works
In the first phase, several projects were inaugurated or taken up for development. These include:
- Redevelopment of Sharda Ghat at a cost of Rs 10.7 crore.
- First phase of the Tanakpur city drainage system costing Rs 66 crore.
- A helipad at Chuka.
- A multi-storey parking facility.
Tourism and Employment Push
The corridor plan includes adventure tourism activities such as river rafting on the Sharda and paragliding. The project is also expected to support religious tourism through improved facilities and wider visitor access. Local employment generation is one of the key expected outcomes, especially for youth in Champawat.
Cultural Heritage and Pilgrimage Development
The state government has also indicated plans to extend the Purnagiri mela beyond its current three-month period to attract visitors throughout the year. Conservation and development efforts are being focused on cultural and religious sites such as Devidhura, Bageshwar, Jageshwar, Patal Bhuvaneshwar and the Goljyu temple in Champawat.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026