Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday directed officials to fast-track the creation of Spiritual Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state’s two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon. The move aims to preserve Uttarakhand’s spiritual, cultural, and natural heritage while promoting holistic development around major pilgrimage sites.

Speaking at a high-level meeting at his residence, Dhami emphasized that the SEZs would generate new employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth while boosting the state’s economy. “The departments must begin work on the plan within the current fiscal year,” he said.

Officials noted that the proposed zones would promote yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, naturopathy, local handicrafts, mountain products, and cultural events—all integral to Uttarakhand’s spiritual identity. The initiative is expected to enrich the state’s tourism landscape and reinforce its image as a “spiritual capital.”

Dhami also highlighted the need to improve winter travel arrangements, including infrastructure, accommodation, transportation, and security, to attract more visitors. He called for aggressive promotion of Uttarakhand’s tourism potential, both domestically and internationally, using modern and traditional platforms.

“The broader objective is to boost tourism, improve the standard of living for residents, and ensure sustainable development while safeguarding Uttarakhand’s natural and spiritual heritage,” Dhami said, directing officials to prepare a concrete implementation strategy with close monitoring at each stage.

Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj joined the meeting virtually, while senior officials—including Badri-Kedar Temple Committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, and Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu—were also present.

The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision during the statehood silver jubilee celebrations on November 9, where he stated that Uttarakhand has the potential to become the spiritual capital of the world, given its rich spiritual traditions and growing prominence in yoga, Ayurveda, and wellness tourism. PM Modi suggested framing a policy-level package for establishing yoga and wellness centres across assembly segments to attract pilgrims and tourists globally.

The SEZ project is expected to integrate Uttarakhand’s cultural, spiritual, and natural resources into a unified framework to stimulate sustainable economic growth and global tourism.