Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today directed the officers of Public Works Department and National Highway Authority of India ( NHAI) to ensure pothole free highways in the State to facilitate the commuters. Chief Minister was presiding over the meeting held here today with senior officers of PWD and NHAI.Jai Ram Thakur said that all the four laning projects should be completed within the time period to avoid cost escalation besides providing better connectivity in the State. He said that Parwanoo Solan four laning project must be completed by 31st March next year whereas Kiratpur-Nerchowk four lane road should be completed by 31st May, next year and Takoli-Kullu by 31st September next year. He said that the target should also be fixed to complete Solan-Kaithalighat stretch of Kalka-Shimla four lane project by end of next year.Chief Minister said the National Highway between Boileauganj- Bhrampukhar-Ghaghas must be made pothole free by 15th November. He directed the officers to take up patchwork on Nerchowk to Kullu at the earliest keeping in view the winter season. He said that upgradation work on Jogindernagar-Pathankot road, Baddi-Nalagarh and Pinjore Nalagarh should be expedited and completed within the stipulated period.
He said that 3G survey must be conducted on all those projects on which 3D have been conducted.Jai Ram Thakur said the matter regarding Kaithlighat-Dhalli four laning project should be resolved at the earliest. He said that as many as 17 structures need to be removed from this stretch besides few electric towers. He also directed the PWD officers to identify suitable dumping sites on Solan-Kaithalighat stretch to facilitate the executing agencies. He also directed the concerned authorities to shift 13 electric towers along this stretch.Chief Minister said that all the clearances related to forest should be expedited to ensure that work on these projects does not suffer. He also stressed the need for plantation of saplings alongside the road to make these four lanes ‘Green Highways’. He also expressed his concern over the delay in construction of bridge over Beas river at Manali which was causing inconvenience to tourists as well as local people. He directed the concerned authorities to speed up the work.Regional Officer of NHAI Gursewak Singh Sangha assured the Chief Minister regarding timebound completion of all four lane projects under implementation in the State.Principal Secretary PWD J.C. Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief Bhawan Sharma, Special Secretary PWD Arindam Chaudhary, Chief Engineer National Highways Archana Thakur and other officers were also present in the meeting.