Uniting for upgrade: Trans-Giri road gets Assembly attention

Over six decades ago, villagers of the Trans-Giri region picked up spades and shovels, joining hands with Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar — the architect of Himachal Pradesh and the state’s first Chief Minister. Through shramdan and sheer determination, they carved out the Solan-Sanora-Rajgarh-Nohradhar-Haripurdhar-Ronhat-Meenus road. More than a route, it became a lifeline, stitching together communities across three constituencies.

Today, that same road has once again emerged as the people’s voice — this time not from the hillsides, but in the Assembly. Its long-overdue upgradation has united ruling and opposition benches alike, with calls for its inclusion in the Prime Minister Gati Shakti scheme or recognition as a National Highway.

During the ongoing Monsoon Session in Shimla, leaders across party lines have championed the demand, terming the project vital for the development of Renuka Ji, Pachhad and Shillai constituencies. Industries, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour & Employment Minister and Shillai MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan, after receiving a joint representation from community organisations, assured full government support. “This road is not just a means of connectivity, but the very lifeline of our rural and tribal communities. The government will make every possible effort to ensure that this historic route gets the recognition and upgradation it deserves,” he affirmed.

Deputy Speaker and Renuka Ji MLA Vinay Kumar has written to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, urging immediate action. Pachhad MLA Reena Kashyap pressed for modernisation during the Monsoon Session, while Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh strongly recommended its inclusion in the Gati Shakti scheme, highlighting its importance to over three lakh residents of the Trans-Giri belt.

For locals, the road is more than asphalt — it carries Dr Parmar’s vision, memories of farmers hauling produce, students trekking to schools, and devotees walking to sacred shrines like Churdhar, Maa Bhangayani and Shri Renuka Ji. Yet, narrow stretches, frequent accidents and monsoon damage continue to make travel arduous and unsafe.

Residents, including Ravinder Thakur, Pradeep Singta and Dr Anil Bhardwaj, stress that National Highway status or inclusion under Gati Shakti would not only improve safety and connectivity but also unlock opportunities for eco-tourism, religious tourism, agricultural trade and even inter-state links with Uttarakhand.