Chief Secretary BK Agarwal held a meeting regarding general pathetic condition of all National Highways entrusted to NHAI with Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Government of India Sanjeev Ranjan, on Monday evening at New Delhi.He said that NHAI is not maintaining properly and regularly the entrusted 774 Kms National Highways mainly due to paucity of field staff and labour required for routine maintenance in hilly terrains of the State and these are not traffic worth and safe and due to this State Government is facing wrath of public and embarrassing situation before the public, the public representatives and media. He said that the State Government have suggested that the maintenance activities of these may be entrusted to NH wing of the State Public Work Department as deposit works of NHAI. He said that the State PWD has adequate field manpower and infrastructure for carrying out routine maintenance.
B.K Agarwal appraised Sanjeev Ranjan about that the work of 4-laining of Kiratpur-Nerchowk Projects (84.38 Km) has been abandoned by the concessionaire since June, 2018. He said that this national highway is the lifeline of the State leading to tourist destinations of Kullu and Manali. He said that NHAI is required to expedite the re-start of the work on this project so that early completion of the balance work which was started in year 2012, can be ensured without any delay.He further said that the project of Nerchowk-Pandoh Project (26.29 Km) is very slow till date and requested him to directed NHAI to expedite the progress. He also appraised him about the delay in award of Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh four-laining project having length 31.400 Kms (17.00 Kms in Himachal Pradesh) and said that work in these roads may be started at the earliest.Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Government of India Sanjeev Ranjan assured that actions on these roads will be taken on priority and also assured the work in these roads will be started at the earliest.