Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has appealed to Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari to designate the Ranital-Kotla (39.20 km) and Ghumarwin-Jahu-Sarkaghat (41.50 km) roads as National Highways.
Sukhu also urged for the release of Rs 172.97 crore to repair several state roads damaged by flash floods and landslides last monsoon, including the Kullu-Manali, Mandi-Kamand-Katola-Bajaura, and Chail-Gohar-Pandoh routes.
8 year gap in new National Highways declarations
Emphasising the significance of road transport in Himachal Pradesh, Sukhu noted that the state has not seen the declaration of any new National Highways in the past eight years.
These requests were made during a review meeting on National Highway Projects chaired by Gadkari, where Sukhu emphasized the significance of road infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh.
Sukhu highlighted the need to alleviate congestion on existing National Highways and stressed the role of these roads in the monsoon season, particularly citing challenges faced on the Kullu-Manali Highway.
Upgradation of Shimla-Mataur NH
Sukhu also underscored the importance of upgrading the Shimla-Mataur National Highway to four-lane standards, crucial for connectivity across eight districts to the state capital and neighboring regions.
He further mentioned the submission of alignment reports for 58 new National Highways in 2018-19, urging prompt review and approval.
Gadkari responded by assuring prompt action and directed contractors to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects. State Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh was also present at the meeting.
