Declare Ghatasani-Bhubu Jot road as NH: Sukhu to Rajnath

The state government has urged the Central Government to declare the Ghatasani-Badhani-Bhubu Jot-Kullu-Shilha road as a national highway (NH) considering its strategic importance and the capacity to provide a reliable and stable connectivity to Leh.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stating that it was a road of strategic importance. “I had taken up this matter with you at a meeting on July 16. The smooth movement of defence forces from Pathankot to the western and northern borders is of strategic importance so declaring this road as a national highway is of immense importance,” he urged Rajnath.

He said that if an alternative road (national highway-20) was constructed from Ghatasani, 40 km short of Manali, it would not only reduce distance by 60 km and travel time by two hours but would also be a much more stable route.

Sukhu stated that the Pathankot-Kullu-Manali-Leh road had assumed significance due to strategic considerations and the heightened security concerns on the northern border. He added that Pathankot was a major launching and logistic hub for the Indian Army for Jammu and Kashmir and Leh-Ladakh sectors of its Western and Northern Commands.

Sukhu said that there are two axis for movement, one along Jammu and Kashmir further to Leh and the other one along Kullu-Manali-Atal Tunnel to Ladakh. “The Himachal axis has a geologically fragile section of national highway along the Beas and there have been several disruptions time and again over the past few years. As such, it is important to explore a new and more stable approach,” he wrote.

The Chief Minister said that declaring this road as a national highway would also give a major boost to the tourism sector and herald prosperity in rural areas falling along this route. He urged the Defence Minister to make a recommendation to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the construction of the national highway-20.