Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today inaugurated and laid foundation stones of developmental projects worth about Rs. 64 crore for Manali area of Kullu district during his one day tour to this area.Jai Ram Thakur dedicated 85 meter long bridge over Beas river at 17 mile constructed at cost of Rs. 9.09 crore under NABARD and Rs. 4.95 crore Police Station building Manali.Chief Minister laid foundation stones of Rs. 16.93 crore upgradation of Ramshila NH-03 to Bekhali, Jindour, Byasar road to be constructed under PMGSY, Rs. 19.71 crore upgradation of Raison Shirar, Shillihar road to be built under PMGSY, Rs. 7 crore additional accommodation at Circuit House Manali, Rs. 4.60 crore improvement of Water Supply Scheme Old Manali (Manu Naggar) from Choll nallah, Rs. 89 lakh improvement of Water Supply Scheme Baga, Raison and Raison Bihal in Kullu Tehsil and Rs. 61 lakh retrofitting of Water Supply Scheme Sharan, Kalonti and Mahili in Kullu Tehsil. While addressing the gathering on the occasion at Manali, Chief Minister said that all the developmental projects, foundation stones of which were laid by him today would be completed within the stipulated time period. He said that the State Government was well aware of the importance of Manali town and thus has accorded top priority on development of the town. He said that efforts were being made to provide better facilities in the town to facilitate the tourists visiting the area.Jai Ram Thakur said that the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang was the vision of former Prime Minister Late Atal Behari Vajpayee, which was fulfilled due to the benevolence and efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would be dedicated by the Prime Minister by the end of September this year. He said that the State Government was ensuring that the pace of development does not suffer due to the Corona pandemic, thus has decided to go for online foundation stones and inaugurations in the State.
Chief Minister said that work on all the developmental projects being executed in the area would be expedited, to avoid price escalation and also to provide benefits of these projects. He said that work on Rs 13 crore Water Supply Scheme Manali have been completed to provide better water supply to the residents of the town and tourists. He said that work would be started soon of Rs. 162 crore Sewerage Scheme for Manali and its adjoining areas. He said that police post Patlikuhal has been upgraded to Police Station and PHC Patlikuhal has been upgraded to CHC to provide better health care facilities to the people of the area.Jai Ram Thakur thanked the people of Manali for generously contributing towards the CM Covid Fund. He said that people of Manali have contributed about Rs 70 lakh towards this fund and also made and distributed thousands of masks to the people of the area. He said that strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been effectively fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. He said that people of the country were rock solid behind every decision of the Prime Minister. He said that the opposition leaders were even politicising this sensitive issue and opposing the move of the State Government to bring back about 2.50 lakh Himachali stranded in different parts of the country.Chief Minister said that the Centre Government has implemented New Education Policy in the country to provide employment oriented education to the students. He said that the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang would open new vistas in the field of tourism in Lahaul valley. He said that this would transform the whole economy of the tribal area of Lahaul-Spiti district. Education Minister Govind Thakur while welcoming the Chief Minister to his home constituency thanked him for dedicating developmental projects worth crores of rupees for Manali area. He said that the present tenure of the BJP Government in the State has ensured unprecedented development of Manali area. He said that the State was scaling new heights under the dynamic and committed leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma said that the two and a half years tenure of the State Government has witnessed unprecedented development in all the parts of the State. He said that the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang would prove a boon to the landlocked area of Lanaul and Spiti. He said that this would give big boost to the tourism activities in the area. Tribal Development Minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda, MLA Banjar Surender Shourie, Vice President HPMC Ram Singh, Vice President State BJP Dhaneshwari Thakur, President BJP Kullu Bheem Sain, Deputy Commissioner Kullu Dr Richa Verma, Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh were present on the occasion among others.