Speed up work on national highways, CM tells NHAI

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 29

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today directed officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure pothole-free highways in the state to facilitate travellers.

He was presiding over a meeting with senior officials of both PWD and NHAI. Thakur said all four-laning projects should be completed within a set time frame to avoid cost escalation, besides providing better connectivity in the state.

He said the Parwanoo-Solan four-laning project must be completed by March 31 next year, while the Kiratpur-Nerchowk road should be completed by May 31 and Takoli-Kullu by September 31.

The Chief Minister said a target should also be fixed to complete the Solan-Kaithalighat stretch of the Kalka-Shimla four-lane project by the end of 2021. He gave directions to make the national highway between Boileauganj-Bhrampukhar-Ghaghas pothole-free by November 15 and to take up patchwork from Nerchowk to Kullu at the earliest keeping in view the winter season.

He said upgrade work on the Jogindernagar-Pathankot, Baddi-Nalagarh and Pinjore-Nalagarh roads should be expedited and completed within the stipulated time period.

Thakur said all issues with regard to the Kaithlighat-Dhalli four-laning project should be resolved at the earliest as 17 structures needed to be removed from this stretch, besides some electric towers.

He directed PWD officials to identify suitable dumping sites on the Solan-Kaithalighat stretch to facilitate the executing agencies. He directed the authorities concerned to shift 13 electric towers along this stretch.

He expressed his concern over the delay in the construction of a bridge over the Beas at Manali, which was causing inconvenience to tourists as well as local people. He directed the authorities to speed up the work.

Regional Officer, NHAI, Gursewak Singh Sangha assured the Chief Minister of ensuring the time-bound completion of all four-laning projects in the state.

Principal Secretary, PWD, JC Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief Bhawan Sharma, Special Secretary, PWD, Arindam Chaudhary, Chief Engineer Archana Thakur and other officials were present.

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