The work on all four lane projects under implementation in the State must be expedited so that commuters do not face any inconvenience and projects were also completed in stipulated time period. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today while presiding over the review meeting of National Highways and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects being implemented in the State.Jai Ram Thakur said that committees comprising the representatives of NHAI, State PWD, concerned district administration and contractors would be constituted to coordinate and finalize the issues regarding damages and compensation in respect to these projects. He also directed the concerned Deputy Commissioners to hold atleast monthly meeting with executing agencies and representatives of NHAI for redressal of any issues pertaining to these projects.Chief Minister directed the forest department to award the balance trees coming in the alignment of Kaithlighat to Dhalli bypass and they must be cleared immediately to facilitate the construction of the road. He also directed for early clearance of 80 structures in Dhalli and Chhakdyal area and also handover possession of 4.65 hectare pending land to NHAI.Jai Ram Thakur said that the work on Parwanoo-Solan section which had been awarded to M/s G.R Infra Projects Limited was nearing completion and would be completed soon. He said that the issue regarding land acquisition pending at village Bara and regarding mutation of land in favour of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways must be expedited.Chief Minister said that the work on stretch between Solan to Kaithlighat section of NH-05 awarded to M/s Airef Engineers (P) Ltd. must be expedited. He said that dumping sites must be identified at earliest and mutation of land in favour of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways should be transferred at the earliest.Jai Ram Thakur said that the work of Brownfield Alignment of 30.66 kms stretch of Kiratpur to Nerchowk section of NH-21 has been awarded to M/s Ceigall India Ltd. and the company had started the work on this project.
He said that the delay in removal of structures in Naulakha to Dadour section of NH-21 was an area of concern which should be redressed at the earliest. He directed the HPSEBL for immediate shifting of towers of 132 KV transmission line from Kangoo to Bajoura.While showing his concern over slow pace of work on Nerchowk-Pandoh section which has been awarded to M/s KMC Constructions Ltd., Chief Minister said that this was causing great inconvenience to the general public as well as to the tourists. He also directed the concerned authorities to remove encroachments in village Aut, so that work could be expedited on this project.Jai Ram Thakur said that two 132 KV transmission lines towers should be shifted within two months so that the work on Takoli-Kullu Section could be expedited. He also directed the concerned authorities to remove structures which came in the alignment besides expediting fast distribution of funds. He also directed the HPSEBL to provide power supply to the contractors so that they could undertake tunneling work without any hindrance. He asked the NHAI authorities to provide wayside amenities on Kullu-Manali section of NH-21 which was almost complete.Chief Minister said that proper maintenance of Shimla-Matour, Pathankot-Chakki-Mandi, Kainchimore-Nerchowk and Kaithlighat-Dhalli section of Shimla bypass must be ensured as these were the lifelines of the State. He said that State Government has already taken up the matter with Government of India for entrusting back these highways to State Government for proper maintenance of these roads till award/construction work was not completed.Jai Ram Thakur said that any laxity in execution of projects would be viewed seriously and erring officers would be dealt sternly.Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Khachi assured the Chief Minister that concerted efforts would be made to complete the National Highway and NHAI projects within the stipulated period.Principal Secretary PWD J.C. Sharma conducted the proceedings of the meeting.Additional Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh, Principal Secretaries Onkar Sharma and Sanjay Kundu, Engineer-in-Chief PWD Bhawan Sharma, Engineer in Chief IPH Naveen Puri, Deputy Commissioners of Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Bilaspur and Kullu districts and other senior officers attended the meeting.