Himachal PWD minister urges Centre for funds, relaxations for Shimla’s Dodra Kwar road projects
Himachal PWD minister says road projects were important for Shimla’s Dodra Kwar so that all‑weather road connectivity can be ensured at earliest
Public Works and Urban Development (PWD) minister Vikramaditya Singh on Saturday called on Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi and urged him to provide special relaxations, additional financial support and technical assistance for the pending road packages in the remote region of Dodra Kwar in Shimla district.
He said that this was important for the region so that all‑weather road connectivity can be ensured at the earliest.
The minister informed Chouhan that a portion of the road sanctioned for the Dodra Kwar area under PMGSY Phase‑I has not yet been completed due to extremely tough geographical conditions, difficult terrain, harsh weather and a very limited working season, even though this road is highly critical for the local rural population, disaster management in the border areas, emergency health services and the supply of essential commodities.
He also informed the minister that for Himachal Pradesh, rural road projects of about 1,500 km length have been sanctioned under PMGSY‑IV, with an estimated cost of around ₹2,300 crore.
“In addition, the state government has placed a proposal before the Central Government for approximately 1,200 km of additional roads under the second phase of PMGSY‑IV, for which Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared by the Public Works Department, and approval of these projects is expected in the near future,” he said.
The Union Minister expressed full sensitivity towards the needs of Himachal Pradesh and assured that the issues related to the pending packages of Dodra Kwar, the residual works of PMGSY‑I, and the required financial approvals would be taken up on priority with the Ministry of Finance and other concerned authorities, and that positive outcomes would follow soon.
Vikramaditya also appealed to all public representatives, panchayat representatives, and land owners to extend maximum cooperation to the department by providing gift deeds for land, so that land required for road construction is made available in time and the maximum number of uncovered habitations in the state can be connected through the road network.
