Uttarakhand’s Auli to Become India’s Davos: Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed ambitious plans to transform Auli, a picturesque hill station in Uttarakhand, into a world-class international tourist destination similar to Davos in Switzerland. The development focus is on winter tourism, with proposals for luxury hotels, entertainment centers, convention facilities, and ski resorts. Gadkari aims to create an ecosystem that boosts both tourism and local employment, positioning Auli as a premier hub for international visitors.

Sustainability is at the forefront of this vision, as Gadkari emphasizes the integration of electric transport solutions, such as funicular railways and cable cars, to preserve the environment while enhancing connectivity. This initiative is also intended to promote “ice games” and other winter sports, which would attract global visitors. According to Gadkari, this project is expected to boost the economy by generating employment in hospitality, transport, and other related sectors, while also increasing government revenues through tourism-related taxes.

On the topic of road infrastructure, Gadkari mentioned the significant improvements made in Uttarakhand’s roads, particularly leading to popular pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Kedarnath. This has tripled the number of visitors to the region, highlighting the positive economic impact of enhanced connectivity.

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Gadkari also addressed concerns about recent road accidents, such as the tragic incident in Dehradun where a biker was killed in a truck collision. He clarified that such accidents are exceptions, pointing to natural disasters like the June floods as contributing factors, and assured the public of continued investigations to improve road safety​.