NH status for three roads in state

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 17

The Centre has approved three national highways, including the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road, and an equal number of industrial corridors for Himachal.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda made this announcement after holding talks with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

Nadda said the Centre had already granted five national highways with a length of 630 km for Himachal. He said the three national highways would improve road network.

The Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road is the lifeline for apple growers in upper Shimla. This road with a length of 80 km will be extended and connected to Tikkar-Baggi-Narkanda. The second road to be granted the national highway status is the 60 km Una-Basoli-Badsar-Bhota road. The third road is the 75 km Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Banethi-Nahan road.

Nadda announced that Rs3,008 crore had been approved for the 90-km Parwanoo-Shimla four-lane project. Similarly, Rs1,818 crore approved for the road from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk while the proposal for Kullu-Manali road to be constructed at a cost of Rs4,400 crore had also been given nod, he said.

He said the three industrial corridors would be from Bilaspur in Haryana to Kala Amb in Sirmour district, Shalaghat-Ramshahar and the Nalagarh-Khajurna-Kala Amb corridor.

“After the deliberations held, it has also been decided to allocate Rs 40 crore for improving the condition of the Kiratpur-Manali national highway, considering the importance of this road and it will be fourlaned up to Kullu,” he said.

He said efforts would be made to hold frequent meetings to expedite approvals. He said the Chamunda-Holi tunnel project would be considered. “I have asked the HPGovernment to submit a proposal for strengthening the roads along the borders as strengthening of infrastructure along these areas is the priority of the Centre,” he said.