Union Minister of Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari in presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur laid foundation stones of various National Highway Projects for State worth Rs. 4459.24 crore at Gaggal in Kangra district today.Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stone of four laning work of 37.05 kms Punjab-Himachal Border to Sihuni section of National Highway No. 154 to be completed at a cost of Rs. 1572.90 crore.Union Minister also laid foundation stone of 104.60 kms section of Paonta Sahib-Gumma-Feduzpul section of National Highway No. 707 to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs. 1356 crore.Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stone of 109.75 kms section Hamirpur-Mandi of National Highway No.70 to be completed by spending Rs.1334 crore and of 15.75 kms Una-Bhiroo section of National Highways No. 503A to be constructed by spending Rs. 51.09 crore.He laid foundation stone of 23.10 kms section of Matour-Dharamshala-Mcleodganj National Highway No.503 by spending Rs. 46.13 crore and of 7kms Paonta Sahib Town section of National Highway No. 7 by spending Rs. 30 crore.
He also laid foundation stone for construction of retaining walls and crash barriers between 94 kms section of Sainj-Luhri-Anni-Jalori-Banjar-Aut National Highway No. 305 by spending Rs. 29.07 crore.Apart from this foundation stone were also laid of 49 kms Baroh Chowk-Dehrian-Jandrah-Talli-Lagru-Dola Khudian-Nahlian road to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs. 40.05 crore.Nitin Gadkari said that all these roads would help in provide better connectivity and facilitate tourists visiting these areas besides ensuring safe journey. This would also increase economic activities in the region besides ensuring employment generation to the youth.Former Chief Minister and MP Shanta Kumar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kishan Kapoor, Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda, Health Minister Vipin Parmar, Vice Chairman State Planning Board Ramesh Dhawala, CGM National Highway Authority of India Munish Rastogi, Chief Engineer Ministry of Road Transport and Highway B.K.Sinha were also present on the occasion among others.