Vijyender Sharma
SHIMLA-----Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh has raised various issues relating to expansion of road network and expediting work on various national highways already approved –in-principal, for Himachal Pradesh with Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a meeting held at New Delhi today. Shri V.C. Pharka, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister and senior officers of Road Transport and Highways Ministry looking after the work of Himachal Pradesh attended the meeting.
Shri Virbhadra Singh categorically raised the issue of Shimla-Mataur (Kangra) National Highway-88 for four laning keeping in view the significance of this highway as it traverses across five districts of the State. He also requested the Union Minister to expedite the work on the tendering process for Parwanoo-Shimla and Ner Chowk-Manali, four lane roads being constructed by NHAI in the State.
Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister that roads were lifeline of people in this hill state as rail network and air connectivity is negligible. He said that with a road network of over 33000 Kms, the support from Ministry of Surface Transport relates only to 1553 Kms in terms of National Highways. There was a great need to consider the demand of Himachal Pradesh for upgradation of 9 identified roads for being declared as National Highways, he added.
Shri Virbhadra Singh also raised the issue of Ambala-Shimla-Kinnaur (NH-22) was blocked for the last 3 months at Tapri-Urni in Kinnaur district. He said that there was a need to explore the possibility to restore old Hindustan -Tibet Road keeping in view the sensitivity of assured road for access to the Indo-China Border area. He requested that the old Road built up during the 18th and 19th century be restored and maintained as National Highway as strategic Border Road, alongwith its original route.
Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister for declaring more roads as National Highways on priority basis keeping in view the importance of road connectivity in this State and also said that the cost of maintenance of roads was extremely high due to tough topographical conditions and snow and monsoon damages. He said that there was a need to relax the norms in terms of advance allocation for urgent repair and maintenance of roads in the State.
Shri Nitin Gadkari not only assured the Chief Minister to look into the pending matters but also directed the senior officers to expedite the work on issuing the pending notification regarding declaring the National Highways of Himachal Pradesh on priority basis.
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