India’s top oil and gas public sector undertakings (PSUs)—Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), and Gas Authority of India (GAIL)—have committed Rs 100 crore for the construction and redevelopment of Shri Badrinath Dham as a Spiritual Smart hill Town.

To redevelop the Badrinath Dham shrine in Uttarakhand, a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) was inked on Thursday by the oil and gas PSUs and Shri Badrinath Utthan Charitable Trust.

The MOU was inked in the presence of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, Pradhan, and Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted that it is a matter of great pride for our PSUs to be linked with the redevelopment of one of the holiest shrines of Dharma.

India's top oil PSUs will spend Rs 100 crore towards the Badrinath redevelopment project and will undertake several works for the beautification of the temple and its surroundings.

This is perhaps the first time top oil PSUs under one administrative ministry will fund for developing a religious shrine.

These PSUs will contribute Rs 99.60 crore in the first phase of the project. Under the MoUs, phase-1 will include various developmental activities such as river embankment work, building vehicular paths, building and beautifying existing bridges, establishing gurukul facilities.

The oil and gas PSUs will also contribute to the development of Kedarnath, Uttarkashi, Yamunotri, and Gangotri.

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