Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur met Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at New Delhi today and requested him to notify 25 road stretches of the state as National Highways and also urged for sanctioning developmental works for their up-gradation.He informed the Union Minister that alignments of 25 stretches have been finalised and works on remaining 33 stretches shall be completed within fixed time frame. He said that Himachal Pradesh was a hill state with unique geographical and topographical conditions and roads were the lifelines and solution to ensure equitable development.The Chief Minister also demanded for intervention in resuming work on national highway from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk as it was the main road that leads to Kullu-Manali. He requested for taking up Pathankot-Mandi and Shimla-Mataour roads as four lanes keeping in view the heavy traffic on these roads.Nitin Gadkari assured to look into the issues and directed the officers of the Ministry to do the needful and apprise him about the progress and feasible solutions. He also asked them to ensure constructions in a manner to reduce accidents in the hill state.Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Shrikant Baldi briefed the Union Minister about the progress of projects in the state.State BJP President Satpal Satti was also present on the occasion.