Connectivity to the Indo-China border region in Uttarakhand will be improved. There has been an improvement in the pace of execution of work on construction of roads in the region which has been pending for years. Stating this, the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh directed the executing agencies to set a time frame for completion of such works. The chief secretary said this while chairing a meeting in the secretariat to review the progress of border area roads' construction in the state.
It was stated in the meeting that permission has been granted for minor minerals to be used for the slated construction of the new Sobla-Tedagan road on the Indo-China border. Permission will soon be secured for the road from Niti village to Niti Pass and the Simli-Gwaldam roads. Officials stated that the 12 kilometre of the Tanakpur-Jauljivi road has been constructed in the Indo-Nepal border area while construction of about 17 kilometre is under progress. A draft detailed project report for construction of one-lane 46 kilometre road costing Rs 202 crore has been submitted to the Home Ministry, Government of India for approval. In addition to this, a DPR is also being prepared for construction of two-lane 11- metre span bridge at Charchum near Dharchula in Pithoragarh district. Bids have been invited for consultancy for DPR preparation regarding 500 metre bridge at Jhulaghat. Work is also underway for construction of a double-lane 400 metre bridge at Sirsa in Champawat district. According to the Mahakali river agreement system, joint inspection by officials of India and Nepal had been conducted and a report will be sent soon to the External Affairs ministry. Additional chief secretary Om Prakash, principal secretary Anand Wardhan, secretary Arvind Singh Hyanki and other officials were also present in the meeting.