Residents have launched an indefinite sit-in protest over the Mohkampur elevated road project, camping outside the Dehradun Vidhan Sabha to oppose what they say is a revised alignment that will uproot hundreds of families and businesses.
The protesters allege the National Highways Authority of India has altered the project route without proper consultation. According to their claims, the new alignment will displace 700 to 800 families and numerous commercial establishments in the area.
The figure matters. At current displacement scales in Indian urban projects, this ranks among the larger involuntary relocations Dehradun has faced in recent years.
Cost Overrun Allegations in Mohkampur Elevated Road Dispute
Residents also claim the revised route will balloon the project cost. They say the original budget of Rs 1,300 crore will balloon to Rs 2,500 crore—a nearly 92 per cent increase.
That’s not a minor accounting correction. A cost overrun of that magnitude typically triggers fresh environmental clearances, revised feasibility studies, and fresh budget allocations from state and central authorities.
The NHAI, however, has dismissed the claims. According to reports on the protest, the authority denies any alignment change and maintains the project follows the route that was originally approved.
The Authority’s statement leaves a straightforward factual dispute unresolved: either the alignment has changed, or residents are mistaken about the route. The cost figures, too, remain contested. NHAI has not publicly released an updated cost estimate to either confirm or deny the Rs 2,500 crore figure.
What the Mohkampur Elevated Road Project Is Meant to Do
The elevated road is designed as part of Dehradun’s broader infrastructure push. Elevated corridors are meant to decongest city streets by routing through-traffic above surface-level roads.
Dehradun, as the state capital and a city of roughly 700,000 people, has struggled with traffic congestion. Projects like this are intended to bypass city centres and speed up commute times.
The Mohkampur route would connect key areas in the city. Like most elevated road projects in India, it promises reduced travel time and smoother traffic flow—benefits that typically accrue to commuters and logistics operators.
Those benefits, however, come at a cost to those directly in the project’s path.
Previous Infrastructure Projects and Displacement History
Dehradun and Uttarakhand have seen other major infrastructure projects result in significant displacement. Widening of the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the 2010s displaced hundreds of families.
Protests over rehabilitation packages are common. Residents typically demand higher compensation, better alternative housing, and livelihood support. Very few projects in Uttarakhand have been halted entirely due to displacement protests, though some have been significantly delayed.
The sit-in outside the Vidhan Sabha is a deliberate pressure tactic. By camping at the legislative assembly, protesters aim to force state-level political attention on their grievance. State lawmakers and ministers regularly visit the assembly, and the visible protest serves as a daily reminder.
Whether the state government will intervene remains unclear. The project falls under NHAI’s purview, which operates under central government authority. However, state governments often mediate between project authorities and affected residents.
The NHAI’s Position and the Route Question
NHAI’s denial of an alignment change is categorical. The Authority states the project follows the approved route.
This creates a critical information gap. Residents claim a revised alignment. NHAI claims no revision. Neither side has publicly released comparative maps or technical documents showing the approved route versus the current route.
Such documentation typically exists. Approved Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for highway projects include detailed alignment maps. If an alignment has been genuinely revised, the EIA would need to be updated or supplemented with a fresh assessment. No announcement of a revised EIA has been made public.
The absence of this documentation in public discourse suggests either the routes remain unchanged, or the revision process is still ongoing without formal public notice.
Compensation and Rehabilitation Concerns
Beyond alignment disputes, residents are likely concerned about rehabilitation terms. In India, highway project displacements typically trigger compensation packages governed by the Land Acquisition Act.
Those packages vary. In some cases, cash compensation is offered. In others, alternative plots are provided. Livelihood support for displaced shopkeepers and business owners remains contentious—often inadequate in the eyes of those affected.
The Mohkampur protest doesn’t yet appear to have zeroed in on specific rehabilitation demands. The focus remains on stopping or halting the project altogether. If the protest shifts to negotiations, compensation levels will likely become central.
Timeline and Next Steps
Indefinite protests can last days, weeks, or longer. Some conclude through direct negotiation. Others peter out as participants tire or shift focus.
The state government may initiate a dialogue with NHAI. Alternatively, it may order an independent review of the alignment claim. Such reviews can take weeks or months.
For now, residents remain encamped outside the Vidhan Sabha, maintaining pressure on state officials to intervene. NHAI, for its part, has shown no indication of pausing the project.
The sit-in marks the first major public resistance to the Mohkampur elevated road project since its planning stages.
FAQ
Q: How many families will be displaced by the Mohkampur elevated road project?
A: Protesters claim 700 to 800 families will be displaced by the revised alignment. NHAI has not released its own displacement figure, and denies any alignment change has occurred.
Q: What is the current cost of the Mohkampur elevated road project?
A: Residents allege the cost has risen from Rs 1,300 crore to Rs 2,500 crore due to the alignment change. NHAI has not publicly confirmed or denied the revised cost estimate.
Q: Has NHAI acknowledged any change to the project route?
A: No. NHAI denies any alignment change and maintains the project follows the originally approved route.
Q: Where are residents protesting?
A: Residents have begun an indefinite sit-in protest outside the Dehradun Vidhan Sabha, the state legislative assembly.
Q: Who is responsible for the Mohkampur elevated road project?
A: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is implementing the project. The state government can mediate between NHAI and affected residents but does not have direct authority over NHAI operations.
