By YS.Rana :
SHIMLA--Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur urged the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari through video conferencing accorded time-bound sanction of Rs. 536 crore for 27 projects, which included 17 roads and 10 bridges under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund for the State, keeping in view the geographical conditions of the State.
He also urged Gadkari for early clearance of 69 highways in the state so that construction work could be taken up at the earliest and also thanked the minister for his approval of 25 National Highways to the state.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Gadkari was addressing the chief ministers and Public Works and Transport Ministers of various States here on Tuesday.
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 to the National Highways Authority of India. He said that 97 km Sainj-Aut National Highway-305 including the Jalori tunnel must be included under the World Bank Green National Highways Project.
The 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 the Union Government for handing over 205 km. Samdho-Kaza-Gramphu National Highway-505 to State Government for development and maintenance. He said that this would give a boost to the development of tribal areas besides promoting tourism activities in these areas.
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 the National Highways Authority of India has also restarted seven projects in the State whereas about 200 workers were engaged.
He also apprised the need for strengthening the office of the 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.