Shimla, Jun 25 (FN Representative) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stone of road projects worth Rs 6155 crore in Himachal Pradesh in the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur through video conferencing from Manali in Kullu district. Union Minister dedicated four lane Parwanoo-Solan section of NH-22 (new NH-05) having length of 39.14 kilometers constructed at a cost of Rs 1303 crore.
He laid foundation stones of four lane of Kangra Bypass to Bhangbar section of NH-88 (new NH-303, 503) having length of 18.13 kilometers to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1323 crore, four lane of Kiratpur to Nerchowk (Greenfield alignment) section NH-21 (new NH-205,154) having length of 47.75 kilometers to be constructed by spending Rs. 2098 crore, four lane/two lane of Paonta Sahib to Hewna section of NH-707 (Green National Highway Corridor Project) of 25 kilometers length to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 273 crore, two lane of Hewna to Ashyari section of NH-707 (Green National Highways Corridor Project) of 25 kilometers length on which Rs. 243 crore would be spent, two lane/intermediate lane of Ashyri to Sri Kyari section of NH-707 (Green National Highways Corridor Project) of 25 kilometers length to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 346 crore, upgradation of Intermediate lane of Sri Kyari to Gumma section of NH-707 (Green National Highway Corridor Project) of 19.9 kilometers length to be built by spending Rs. 349 crore, upgradation of intermediate lane of Gumma to Fediz section of NH-707 (Green National Highway Corridor Project) having length of 8.65 kilo meters on which Rs. 126 crore would be incurred, two lane of Paonta-Rajban-Shillai-Meenus-Hatkoti road NH 707 having length of 12.71 kilometers to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 94 crore.
Mr Gadkari said that Himachal Pradesh was indeed the most beautiful state of the country. He said that roads were the prerequisite of overall development of any nation. Roads were also important for the tourism promotion and Himachal, being a tourist State, better roads in the State, would go a long way in tourism promotion. He said that within the next two years the travelling distance between Delhi to Kullu would be reduced to seven hours. This would give big boost to tourism development in the state. He assured that all the roads, foundation stones of which were laid by him today would be completed within a stipulated time period. Mr Gadkari said that road projects worth Rs 15000 crore would be awarded to Himachal Pradesh this year. DPR for construction of 40 kilometers left bank road project at Manali would be prepared at the earliest. He said that the Union Government would provide all possible assistance to the State Government for construction of alternative mode of transportation such as cable car etc and for strengthening the road networks in the State.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that being a hilly state, roads were the only mode of transportation in the state. Therefore the main focus of the political leadership as well as the common people was roads. He said that even the first Chief Minister of the State Dr YS Parmar about 50 year ago had summed up the developmental priorities of the State in just three words “Road, Road and Road’. He said that today the State has about 40,000 kms road length, but being a hilly State, lot more needs to be done. He said that roads and that too better roads were the foremost requirement for inviting and attracting the tourists to the State. Jai Ram Thakur thanked the Union Minister for dedicating and laying foundation stones of road projects worth Rs 6155 crore for the State. He said that the present State Government has succeeded in sanctioning 997 projects for the State from Centre during the last three and a half years.