Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur urged the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for according time bound sanction of Rs. 536 crore for 27 projects, which includes 17 roads and 10 bridges project under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund for the State, keeping in view the geo-graphical conditions of the State.Chief Minister was addressing the video conference of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways with the Chief Ministers, Public Works and Transport Ministers of various States today.Jai Ram Thakur said that keeping in view the density of vehicular traffic on Shimla-Matour and Pathankot-Mandi National Highways, it was essential that periodic renewal and maintenance of these roads be ensured. He urged for providing adequate funds for this to the National Highways Authority of India. He said that 97 kms Sainj-Aut National Highway-305 including Jalori tunnel must be included under the World Bank Green National Highways Project.Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for sanctioning of 1486 crore Paonta Sahib-Gumma-Fadus Pul road and Rs. 1112 crore for Hamirpur-Mandi roads under World Bank Green National Highways Projects. He also thanked Union Government for handing over 205 kms. Samdho-Kaza-Gramphu National Highway-505 to State Government for development and maintenance. He said that this would give boost to development of tribal areas besides promoting tourism activities in these areas.
Jai Ram Thakur urged the Union Minister for early clearance of 69 highways of the State so that work could be started at the earliest. He thanked him for according in principle approval to 25 National Highways to the State. He said that the State Government had also provided priority list to the Government of India and urged the Union Government to give sympathetic consideration to the proposal.Chief Minister said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown thereafter work has been restarted on 11 projects on National Highways by following the guidelines of social distancing and disinfection of the Government of India. He said that National Highways Authority of India has also restarted seven projects in the State whereas about 200 workers were engaged.Jai Ram Thakur also felt the need to strengthen the office of National Highways Authority of India in the State to expedite the work on various projects being executed by NHAI in the State. He also urged the Union Minister to rationalize toll barrier at Manali as this was causing great inconvenience to the commuters.Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari assured the Chief Minister for sympathetic consideration of various demands of the State. He also stressed on smooth plying of goods carrier on highways as the Road Transport Ministry way playing a vital role in visualizing the dream of Prime Minister to make India a five trillion dollar economy.Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, Principal Secretary Public Works Department J.C. Sharma, Engineer in Chief, PWD Bhawan Sharma, Chief Engineer National Highways Archana Thakur, Director Information and Public Relations Harbans Singh Brascon were also present during the meeting.