Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of road projects worth Rs 6155 crore for Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also accompanied him during the occasion through video conferencing from Manali in Kullu district.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said that within the next two years, the travelling distance between Delhi to Kullu would be reduced to seven hours. This would give a big boost to tourism development in the State.
He assured that all the roads, foundation stones of which were laid by him today would be completed within a stipulated time period.
Gadkari said that road projects worth Rs. 15000 crore would be awarded to Himachal Pradesh this year. DPR for construction of a 40 kilometers left bank road project at Manali would be prepared at the earliest.
He said that the Union Government would provide all possible assistance to the State Government for construction of alternative modes of transportation such as cable car etc. and for strengthening the road networks in the state.
Union Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways VK Singh said that road projects worth Rs 2000 crore have been completed in the state and work is in progress on projects worth Rs 7000 crore.
The Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur urged Nitin Gadkari for construction of Bhuboo Jot tunnel and for double laning of Left Bank Road for Manali town.
Thakur said that being a hilly state, roads are the only mode of transportation in Himachal. The state has about 40,000 kms road length, but being a hilly state, a lot more needs to be done.
He said that roads and that too better roads were the foremost requirement for inviting and attracting the tourists to the state.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for dedicating and laying foundation stones of road projects worth Rs 6155 crore for the state.
He said that the present State Government has succeeded in getting sanction 997 projects for Himachal from the Centre during the last three and a half years.
During this period, the BJP Government connected 305 villages by roads as compared to 261 roads connected during the tenure of the Congress Government. 216 bridges and 2951 kms roads were connected during the last three years as compared to 145 bridges and 1585 kms roads during the tenure of the previous Congress Government, he added Earlier, the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari dedicated a four lane Parwanoo-Solan section of NH-22 (new NH-05) having length of 39.14 kilometers constructed at a cost of Rs 1303 crore.
He laid foundation stones of four lane of Kangra Bypass to Bhangbar section of NH-88 (new NH-303, 503) having length of 18.13 kilometers to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1323 crore, four lane of Kiratpur to Nerchowk (Greenfield alignment) section NH-21 (new NH-205,154) having length of 47.75 kilometers to be constructed by spending Rs 2098 crore, four lane/two lane of Paonta Sahib to Hewna section of NH-707 (Green National Highway Corridor Project) of 25 kilometers length to be constructed at a cost of Rs 273 crore among other projects.
GADKARI AND CM VISIT ATAL TUNNEL
The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari accompanied by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday visited Atal Tunnel Rohtang.
This 9.02 km tunnel, dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3 last year connects Manali to Lahaul Spiti valley.
Union Minister and Chief Minister were accorded traditional welcome on entering the North Portal towards Lahaul side by the people of Lahaul Spiti district.
The Union Minister while interacting with mediapersons at South Portal appreciated the efforts of the BRO for constructing this tunnel.
He said that as many as 19 tunnels are being constructed in Himachal Pradesh by the Union Government, out of which work is in progress on eight tunnels.