The Central Government on Wednesday approved 12 projects amounting to Rs 194.58 crore under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme for Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur thanked the Central Government for granting approval for the ambitious projects.
During his recent two days visit to Delhi, Thakur had raised the issue for according approval to these projects with Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
The Chief Minister said that these projects would go a long way in providing better connectivity facility to the people of the state besides improving the quality of roads. Roads are the lifeline of hilly areas and are vital for the development agenda and make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth, he said.
Giving details of the projects, Thakur said that these projects include R. 16.62 crore 80 meter span bridge over Markanda river and 27.60 meter span bridge over Khad on Gurudwara Sahib NH-07 to Markanda Nadi in Sirmour district, Rs 22.82 crore 150 meter double lane span bridge with footpath over river Beas at Kothipattan on Dharampur Sandhole road via Seoh langana in district Mandi, Rs 10.07 crore 60 meter span bridge over Markanda river on Moginand to Suketi road in Sirmour district, project worth Rs 8.39 crore for improvement, widening and strengthening of Ara chowk to Jourbar road in Kangra district, Rs 14.60 crore for preliminary project report for 85 meter span double lane pre-bridge with footpath over Beas at Thalout in Mandi district and Rs 21.03 crore for widening and strengthening of Parour Dheera Naura road upto Purba road in Kangra.
He said that approval for Rs 15.56 crore for improvement and widening of Karchham Sangla Chhitkul road in Kinnaur district, Rs 31.63 crore for improvement and strengthening of Alampur Harsipattan road in Kangra, Rs 32.66 crore for improvement and widening of Sujanpur to Hamirpur via Kot Chouri Patlander Chhamaian road, Rs 8.03 crore preliminary project report for 40 meter double lane span bridge with footpath over Bekhli Khud at Lambathach in Mandi, Rs 8.37 crore for construction of 62 meter span double lane composite steel girder bridge in Shimla and Rs 4.80 crore for construction of 40 meter double lane span bridge over Sarotha Nallah on Chamba Sahoo Kiri road in Chamba district has also been given by Central Government.
The Chief Minister further said that the specifications for these roads would be similar to those of national highways works to the extent of pavement width, crust thickness and geometrics.
He said that the State Government would ensure completion of these works within stipulated time so that people could be benefitted at the earliest.