The work on Theog-Kharapathar-Hatkoti (TKH) road should be expedited and the major bottlenecks would be removed before the apple season sets in, stated Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the review meeting of Public Works Department and the representatives of the Chadha and Chadha (C&C) Construction Company here today.The Chief Minister said the focus should be to blacktop the six kilometers on both sides of Kharapathar by end of June positively with proper drainage system so as to provide much needed relief to the people of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru and adjoining areas for transportation of their apple produce. He said that this was the most critical area and needs to be properly metalled besides carrying on the routine work. He said the alternative roads would also be repaired for transporting apple and government would ensure that the fruit reaches market well in time.“All the alternate routes will be maintained during the apple season so that horticulturists do not face any problem in marketing their produce”, he added.As of now, a sum of around Rs. 333 crore had been sanctioned by the World Bank for construction of road in two phases from Theog to Kharapathar and further from Kharapathar to Rohru.He directed the company to undertake the work on war-footing. The Chief Minster also said that wherever the land acquisition process for widening of the road had been completed and it should be taken over as soon as possible.
I know some people were creating hindrances on the issue of land acquisition which was causing delay in constructing the road, he said. The Chief Minister asked the local elected representatives of the party to intervene where such cases were found and get the issues solved amicably. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor such cases. He said revenue officials be directed to be on the spot along with the PWD authorities where issues of acquisition was involved and not to un-necessary create hindrances and also asked the representative of C&C Company to keep liaison with the Deputy Commissioner and to seek his help in case of any problem.The Chief Minister directed the PWD Department to blacklist those contractors who have been assigned the task of some major road projects and were delaying the work on the same. He also ordered that the departments concerned to give immediate permission to the company for using mobile crushers at Kharapathar wherein he directed the C&C Company to complete the codal formalities as soon as possible for mobile crushers.
“The people of the area were expecting bumper apple crop this season and I want that they may not face any inconvenience in transporting their crop” he said, adding that the TKH road was priority of the State Government. Inquiring about the Lal Dhang- Paonta- Rajban (LPR) road which has been declared as National Highway, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction on the ongoing work from Paonta Sahib onwards and directed the PWD to blacklist the contractor who was delaying the work on LPR road. Capt Rajbir Singh the MD of C&C company assured the Chief Minister that he will definitely start the metalling work from 1st June, 2015 completing 22 kilometers patch of road from Theog to Gumma and the 12 kilometers road from Rohro towards Hatkoti. The Chief Minister also directed the authorities to blacktop certain portion of road at Chailla in front of Primary Health Centre.Chief Parliamentary Secretary Shri Rohit Thakur, MLAs Shri Balbir Verma, Shri Mohan Lal Brakta, Chairman, HP Housing Board, Shri Yashwant Chajta, Chairman APMC, Shri Mahendar Stan, Additional Chief Secretary, Shri V.C. Pharka, ACS (PWD), Shri Narinder Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Engineer-in-Chief PWD, Shri Naresh Sharma, Special secretary Finance, Shri Akshay Sood were also present on the occasion amongst the representatives of C&C Company.