3 state highways to be upgraded

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 15

In a boost to infrastructure in Uttarakhand, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway has approved the upgradation of three state highways to national highways comprising Luxar-Purkazi to Haridwar, Kund-Ukhimath to Gopeshwar and Pannar-Gangolihaat to Bagheshwar.

The upgradation will not only help the state roads acquire national specifications, increase the width of the roads, but also help in availability of funds through the Central Government. “The ugradation of Luxar-Purkazi road to Haridwar highway will prove useful for the 2016 Ardh Kumbh Mela, boosting our infrastructure preparedness for which the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 46 crore, out of an overall sanction of Rs 1000 crore. Along with the Central Government upgradation fund boost, funds would also be available during the periodical sanctions for maintenance and repair,” said Amit Negi, Secretary, PWD, while briefing media persons.

Further, Negi said that the process of handing over the stretches of national highways under the Border Road Organisation (BRO) will be complete by April 2015.

“The handing over of the Rishikesh- Rudraprayag NH (58), Rudraprayag-Gaurikund NH(109) and Tanakpur-Pithoragarh NH (125) would be carried in three stages for which three divisions would be set up at Lohaghat, Srinagar and Rudpraprayag/Guptkashi,” said Negi. He said that the three agencies, Central Government, state PWD and BRO would sit together to chalk out a plan for the upkeep of the roads in the state.