The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually inaugurated 15 Gram Setus (pedestrian bridges) in six mountainous districts of the state on Friday. Himalayan Environment Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) and ICICI Foundation have constructed these bridges for improving local connectivity and helping village communities. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the villagers residing in the mountainous districts of the state face connectivity problems due to the rivers and rivulets especially during the monsoon season. Appreciating the initiative taken by the ICICI Foundation and HESCO, Dhami said that these 15 bridges would help residents of 64 villages. He said that such works should be undertaken on a large scale. Dhami opined that the social organisations and institutions can play a major role in the all round development of the state. He hoped that HESCO and ICICI Foundation would undertake more such initiatives in Uttarakhand in the future. He said that apart from implementing the schemes of Union and State governments, his government would take support of social organisations and institutions in development of the state. Dhami said that the district magistrates should take inspiration from the project and promote such activities a village and Panchayat level. He said that the NITI Aayog must have felt the need for more experiments of such nature in the future. Dhami said the NITI Aayog would prove to a major helper and guide for Uttarakhand in its journey of becoming a model state.

The vice chairman of NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar said that the commission would provide every possible help in the all round development of Uttarakhand. He appreciated the initiative of village bridges undertaken by ICICI Foundation and HESCO.

The founder of HESCO, Anil Prakash Joshi said that Uttarakhand is bestowed with many resources. He said that we should focus more on rural development. Joshi opined that state should move forward on path of development by using science and technology and taking help of all organisations.

The chairman of the ICICI Foundation, Saurabh Singh said that foundation has spent the money of society in the issues of social concern and public welfare. He said that the objective of the project was to provide facilities to the people of rural areas.

The Uttarakhand in-charge of NITI AayogNeelam Patel, Durgesh Pant and others were present on the occasion.