Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has directed the officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure early restoration of the National Highways which have been damaged due to the incessant rains in different parts of the state.
The chief secretary was chairing a meeting to review the latest status of the restoration of the damaged National Highways of the state. He said that the road damaged due to landslide at Chakki Mod near Parwanoo on Parwanoo-Shimla stretch of the National Highway has been restored and opened for movements of vehicles, including heavy vehicles.
He said that the vehicles heading towards Ambala and Delhi may also use the alternative route i.e. Kumarhatti-Nahan to ease the traffic on this highway. He added that the block at the National Highway at Namhol on Shimla-Bilaspur stretch of the highway has been cleared and opened for vehicular movement and directed the concerned officials to take necessary steps for proper maintenance of the road.
He directed the NHAI officials to take immediate steps to restore the damages on the National Highway between Mandi to Manali, particularly at Kainchi Mod Pandoh, 7 Mile, and Patlikuhal to Manali, besides restoring the damaged stretch at Kotrupi on Pathankot-Mandi National Highway.
Till the time Kotrupi road is restored, the time traffic has been diverted on Katindi-Jathingari-Gatasani road. He further said that a time schedule for smooth movement of vehicles between Bajaura and Mandi has been put in place.
He directed the officials of the Public Works Department to ensure the restoration of the damaged roads which are being used as alternative routes to these National Highways. He also directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department to ensure supply of sufficient quantities of petrol and diesel for Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts.
Principal Secretary (PWD), Bharat Khera, Secretary (Horticulture) C. Paulrasu, DC Kullu Ashutosh Garg, Engineer in Chief HPPWD Ajay Gupta, Regional Officer NHAI Abdul Basit, Special Secretary (PWD) Harbans Singh Brascon, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, Nivedita Negi, representatives of the NHAI and other senior government officers and officials were present in the meeting.