The total cost of₹12,000crores and the foundation stone of the project was laid byPrime MinisterNarendra Modi on 27 December 2016 atParade Ground inDehradun. The highway will be calledChar Dham Mahamarg (Char Dham Highway) and the highway construction project will be called asChar Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana (Char Dham Highway Development Project) and is made to improve the connectivity to theChota Char Dham nestled in theHimalayas.[2][3][4][5] Road will include several long bridges and tunnels to eliminate accident and slide prone areas.Indian Railways andNational Highways Authority of India have been directed, by the Cabinet Secretary of India, to ensure that rail and road highway routes are integrated on this circuit.[6]
Yamunotri, NH 94, 95 km fromDharasu. State buses go up to Hanuman Chatti (14 km from Yamunotri), taxis go all the way to Yamunotri, and lodging is available atdharamshalas andashrams at Yamunotri.[7]
Rishikesh–Gangotri (same route as previous one till Dharasu). This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Gangotri close to the border area ofNelang Valley .[8][9]
Rishikesh
Dharasu, NH 94, 144 km from Rishikesh
Gangotri,NH 108, 124 km from Dharasu. Road transport goes up to Gangotri, but the actual source of Ganga is atGomukh glacier which is another 18+ km trail and requires a minimum of two days.[7]
Gaurikund (trek 12.6 km to Kedarnath on foot, by pony or helicopter ride),NH 109, 76 km from Rudraprayag, Road transport goes up to Gaurikund.[7]
Rishikesh–Badrinath (same route are previous one till Rudraprayag). This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Badrinath closer to the area ofBarahoti .[9][10]
Mana (trek to Badrinath), NH 58, 140 km from Rudraprayag, motorable all the way to Badrinath, Tapt Kund ‘hot springs’ is just before theBadrinath Temple.[7]
