Former Uttarakhand CM and ex-Road Transport Minister Maj Gen B. C. Khanduri (Retd.) dies at 91
Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.), twice Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (2007–09, 2011–12) and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Vajpayee government credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral, died in Dehradun on 19 May 2026 aged 91.
Summary
Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.), former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Union Minister, died in Dehradun on 19 May 2026 at the age of 91 after a prolonged illness. B. C. Khanduri served as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand twice, from 2007 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2012. As Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Khanduri is credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral – the 5,846-km highway network linking Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, part of the first phase of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise on 19 May, and Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan paid tributes at his Dehradun residence on 20 May 2026.
Key facts
- Person
- Maj Gen Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (Retd.), 'General Sahab'
- Died
- 19 May 2026, Dehradun, aged 91
- Uttarakhand CM
- Twice: 2007–2009 and 2011–2012
- Union portfolio
- Road Transport and Highways, Atal Bihari Vajpayee government
- Legacy
- Executing the Golden Quadrilateral (5,846 km; Delhi–Mumbai–Chennai–Kolkata), NHDP Phase I
- Tributes
- PM Modi (19 May); Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Dehradun (20 May)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), whose demise was condoled by the Prime Minister on 19 May 2026, had served as Chief Minister of which state?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Uttarakhand
PIB describes him as former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Union Minister.
Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), who died on 19 May 2026, held which Union portfolio in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government?
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Correct answer: B — Road Transport and Highways
Khanduri was Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in the Vajpayee government and is credited with executing the Golden Quadrilateral.
Consider the following statements about Major General B. C. Khanduri (Retd.), who died in May 2026: 1. He served two terms as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, 2007–2009 and 2011–2012. 2. The Golden Quadrilateral, executed during his tenure as Road Transport and Highways Minister, was part of Phase II of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the 5,846-km Golden Quadrilateral was part of the first phase of NHDP; Phase II mainly covered the North-South and East-West Corridors.