President Murmu inaugurates foot overbridge on Rajpur Road , to attend silver jubilee events in Uttarakhand

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday inaugurated a new foot overbridge on Rajpur Road in Dehradun at the start of her three-day visit to Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd) were present during the inauguration ceremony.

The newly built structure, a 32-metre-long, 4-metre-wide foot overbridge with lifts on both sides aims to ensure safe pedestrian movement on the busy Rajpur Road, one of Dehradun’s key arterial routes. The project also improves accessibility around the Presidential Retreat and adjoining civic areas, reflecting the government’s focus on inclusive and barrier-free public infrastructure.

Ahead of the visit, the Dehradun District Administration declared the area around the President’s residence a “Silent Zone” under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to ensure security and maintain decorum. The order, effective from November 2 morning until an hour after the President’s departure on November 3, covered Rajpur Road from Brahmkamal Chowk to Rashtrapati Niketan, and areas around the Mussoorie Diversion and Vidhan Sabha.

On November 3, President Murmu addressed the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in Dehradun to mark the silver jubilee of the state’s formation, before proceeding to Nainital. She will attend the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Raj Bhavan, a colonial-era building constructed in 1897 that once served as the summer residence of the British Governors of the United Provinces and now houses the Governor of Uttarakhand.

The President will also attend the 20th convocation of Kumaon University in Nainital on November 4, where she will award gold medals to meritorious students, and offer prayers at the Neem Karoli Maharaj temple at Kainchi Dham.

Officials said around 1,500 police personnel have been deployed across key points to ensure smooth movement and security during the high-profile visit.

Such presidential visits often leave a lasting imprint on the state drawing national attention to Uttarakhand’s heritage and natural beauty, strengthening its image as a year-round tourism destination, and spurring civic upgrades such as improved roads, lighting and sanitation. They also inspire academic institutions, promote youth aspirations, and reinforce the state’s dual identity as Devbhoomi, the land of spiritual heritage, and a modern, progressive Himalayan state.