Uttarakhand

• 01 Nov 2023

Vandana Kataria Becomes the First Indian Player to Play 300th international Match

Why In News?

According to the information received from the media on October 31, 2023, Indian women's hockey team's forward player Vandana Kataria, resident of Roshnabad, Uttarakhand, won the 300th Jharkhand Women's Asian Champions Trophy-2023 at the Jaipal Singh Munda Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Marang Gomke, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Becomes the first player to earn an international cap.

Key Points:

• Vandana Kataria achieved the feat during India's match against Japan in the ongoing Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2023. With this, Vandana became the first Indian female player to play 300 international matches.
• India remains unbeaten so far in the ongoing Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2023. They won their first game against Thailand 7–1, won the second match against Malaysia 5–0 and then defeated China 2–1 in a thrilling encounter.
• It is known that Vandana Kataria came into limelight when she was the top scorer for the Indian team in the Junior Women's World Cup in Mönchengladbach, Germany and played an important role in helping the team win the bronze medal.
• Vandana also played an important role in India's fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is also the first Indian female hockey player to score a hat-trick in the Olympic Games.
• Vandana has also been honored with the prestigious Padmashree award in 2022. Vandana, an experienced forward, was a member of the Indian team that won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and the Women's Asia Cup in 2017.

910 Meter Log Tunnel Connecting Badrinath And Gaurikund Highway Cross

Why In News?

On October 30, 2023, a 910 meter long tunnel has been passed at Rudraprayag District headquarters to connect Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway.

Key Points:

• Under the 'All Weather Road Project' of the Government of India, in the second phase, a tunnel is being constructed in Rudraprayag to connect Badrinath and Gaurikund Highway. Tunnel construction work was started with Bhoomi Pujan in December 2022. In March this year, the executing agency Bharat Construction Company started digging for the tunnel from Belani and Jagtoli.
• The executing company was given a target to cross this tunnel by December, but the company crossed the tunnel in seven months with the help of 150 laborers and machines. In the presence of top officials of the company, the tunnel was crossed 910 meters from Belani to Jagtoli.
• Under the project, along with the tunnel, a 200 meter long motor bridge is also proposed on the Alaknanda River, digging for the abutment of which is going on in full swing. According to NH officials, the project work will be completed by June 2025.
• It is noteworthy that in the year 2008-09, BRO had prepared a proposal for construction of a tunnel in the district headquarters and sent it to the Government of India. In the year 2016, the Ministry of Roads and Transport of the Government of India approved this proposal. After this, a survey for tunnel construction was conducted in three phases in the presence of BRO officials.
• Based on the survey report, in the year 2019, the Government of India approved the construction of the tunnel and included it in the second phase of the All Weather Road Project. Besides, in-principle approval of Rs 200 crore was also given for the construction of tunnel and bridge on Alaknanda river.