Central nod awaited for over Rs 80-crore road project in Sirmaur: Vikramaditya

The construction of the 14-km Dhamla-Dhanach Chokhdiya road and the 8-km Talibhoojjal road has been completed, while the work on the Tharu link road is nearing completion, said Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh while inaugurating the district-level Ekadashi Fair at Devthi Majhgaon in Rajgarh subdivision of Sirmaur district on Thursday.

Among the new projects, the Chhailla-Yashwant Nagar road — estimated to cost Rs 70 crore to Rs 80 crore, had been sent to the Central Government for approval, he added.

Earlier, residents accorded a warm welcome to the minister with traditional Sirmauri attire, including a loiya, shawl, cap and a memento. A felicitation letter penned by Padma Shri Vidyanand Sarek was also presented to Vikramaditya.

Greeting the people, Vikramaditya said most fairs and festivals of Himachal Pradesh are rooted in ancient traditions and the Ekadashi Fair continues to reflect the state’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual devotion. He remarked that in the fast-paced modern lifestyle, such community events play a crucial role in keeping the younger generation connected to their soil and culture.

He emphasised that village-level fairs not only showcase local art and culture but also provide a platform for rural youth to display their sporting talents.

Highlighting the state’s achievements in road development, the minister said during the Congress governments, the pace of road construction and improvement had been unprecedented. Due to the expansion of national, state and rural roads, a consistent decline in road accidents has been recorded over the past three years.

The minister said Sirmaur district currently had a 3,553-km road network, of which 2,362 km are paved and 1,192 km remain unpaved. In recent years, 126 km of new roads have been built, 156 km metalled and tarred, 173 km upgraded and 346 km of cross-drainage work completed. Under the annual maintenance plan, tarring of 229 km roads has also been carried out.

In Rajgarh division alone, 390 km out of 514 km of road network has been blacktopped and the remaining roads are being paved in a phased manner. All 33 panchayats of Rajgarh block, he added, have been provided road connectivity.

Taking note of delays in the construction of the Patti-Patel College, the minister directed officials to complete the work at the earliest, reminding the gathering that the college was a contribution of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

The minister said 100 offices of the Public Works Department have been transitioned to the e-Office system, marking a historic step towards transparency, accountability and efficiency. This digital transformation, he said, ensures timely file processing, real-time monitoring and better record retrieval. Earlier, the minister unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and planted a deodar sapling as a mark of environmental commitment. Local residents also submitted their demands and grievances during the event.