Union Minister of Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari on Sunday laid foundation stones of various national highway projects worth Rs 4459.24 crore for Himachal.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present on the occasion at the foundation stone laying ceremony held at Gaggal in Kangra district.
The Union Minister laid foundation stone of four laning work of 37.05 kms Punjab-Himachal border to Sihuni section of national highway no. 154 to be completed at a cost of Rs 1572.90 crore.
He laid foundation stone of 104.60 kms section of Paonta Sahib-Gumma-Feduzpul section of national highway no. 707 to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs 1356 crore.
Gadkari also laid foundation stone of 109.75 kms section Hamirpur-Mandi of national highway no.70 to be completed by spending Rs1334 crore and of 15.75 kms Una-Bhiroo section of national highways no. 503A to be constructed by spending Rs 51.09 crore.
Apart from this, he laid foundation stone of 23.10 kms section of Matour-Dharamshala-Mcleodganj national highway no. 503 worth Rs 46.13 crore and of 7kms Paonta Sahib Town section of national highway no. 7 by spending Rs 30 crore. Foundation stone for construction of retaining walls and crash barriers between 94 kms section of Sainj-Luhri-Anni-Jalori-Banjar-Aut national highway no. 305 worth Rs 29.07 crore was also laid.
Foundation stone were also laid for 49 kms Baroh Chowk-Dehrian-Jandrah-Talli-Lagru-Dola Khudian-Nahlian road to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs 40.05 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that all these roads would help in providing better connectivity and facilitate tourists visiting these areas besides ensuring safe journey.
This would also increase economic activities in the region besides ensuring employment generation to the youth, he said.
Former Chief Minister and MP Shanta Kumar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Kishan Kapoor, Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda, Health Minister Vipin Parmar among others were also present on the occasion.
