Himachal Pradesh Government Urges Gadkari for Release of Promised Rs. 150 Crore for PWD Road Repairs

The Himachal Pradesh government, anticipating the upcoming monsoon season, has urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to expedite the release of Rs 150 crore allocated for repairing Public Works Department (PWD) roads that connect national highways in the state. State PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh met Gadkari in New Delhi on Thursday to press for the release of these funds, as stated in an official statement.

During their meeting, Gadkari approved an initial Rs 50 crore from the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for the Khamadi-Tikkar road in Shimla district. Singh reiterated the state’s request for the full Rs 150 crore promised by Gadkari during his visit to Hamirpur on March 5, where he announced the allocation for roads and bridges in Himachal Pradesh upon Singh’s request.

Singh discussed various road projects with Gadkari, highlighting the importance of reinstating several projects that were removed from the Draft Annual Plan and advocating for their inclusion in the upcoming Annual Plan for 2024-25. He specifically emphasized the urgent need for Rs 30 crore to maintain and repair the Kamand-Kataula and Chail Chowk-Pandoh roads, crucial alternate routes that alleviate traffic congestion, particularly towards Kullu and Manali.

Additionally, Singh reiterated Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s plea to upgrade the Shimla-Mataur National Highway to four lanes from its current two-lane configuration. He also raised concerns about pending approvals for a Rs 70 crore rehabilitation project on National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet road), essential for the annual Mani Mahesh Yatra starting from Hadsar in Chamba in August.

Gadkari assured Singh of his support and pledged to expedite necessary approvals and allocations to address the state’s infrastructure needs effectively, the statement concluded.

ET