DEHRADUN, January 20: As summer arrives early and the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway shrinks travel time, the capital city is choking under unprecedented pressure.
Traffic jams, chaotic parking, open waste burning, crumbling footpaths, rising accidents and shrinking green cover have made daily life miserable for residents. Ironically, even as the crisis deepens, authorities appear divided and directionless.
Breaking this inertia, the Dehradun Citizens Forum has stepped in, calling a high-level Citizen–Administration Dialogue on January 21 at Doon Library. District Magistrate Dehradun, along with senior officials from traffic police, municipal corporation, PWD, MDDA, transport and pollution control departments, have been invited for a direct interaction.
“This is not a blame game. This is about finding workable solutions together,” said Forum member Anoop Nautiyal.
Forum members have made a strong appeal to citizens to actively participate. “Dehradun belongs to its people. If we don’t speak up now, we may lose this city forever,” said Retu Chatterjee, urging residents to attend in large numbers.
Jagmohan Mehdiratta added, “Civic issues cannot be fixed from offices alone. Public participation is the real engine of change.”
Calling the initiative a turning point, Bharti Jain said, “This dialogue can set a roadmap for a cleaner, safer and more liveable Dehradun.”
Ramana Kumar stressed that only sustained citizen pressure can force long-term policy action.
The Forum has urged media and civil society to amplify the voices of residents and make this a movement for reclaiming Dehradun.
#SaveDehradun
#CitizensForChange
#DoonDialogue
#ReclaimOurCity
