Centre has okayed Rs 3,667 cr road plan for state: Minister
The Central Government has approved an annual plan of Rs 3,667 crore for the construction and upgrade of roads, bridges and related infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh for the financial year 2024–25.
PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the state had submitted an annual plan of Rs 2,600 crore for the financial year 2023–24 but received only Rs 269 crore. However, for 2024–25, the state government had submitted a Rs 3,667 crore plan, which the Central Government had approved.
The minister said that the Central Government had given in-principle approval and sanctioned Rs 1,452 crore for the construction of a tunnel beneath Jalori Jot in Kullu district, under the National Highway-305. The construction of this tunnel would not only boost tourism in the area but also benefit lakhs of residents of the region, he added.
Vikramaditya said, “Himachal has around 1,200 km of national highways and I have requested the Central Government to enhance financial assistance for their maintenance.”
He said that the Central Government had approved Rs 135 crore for the construction of a bridge at Brauni Nala on the National Highway-5 as the road had suffered extensive damage. Besides, it had sanctioned Rs 1,385 crore for the widening of the Kala Amb-Paonta Sahib-Dehradun road to four lanes.
The minister expressed gratitude to Union Minister for Highways and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari and the Central Government for approving significant funds for the state. He said that during his New Delhi visit, he had also met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and raised the issue of the proposed Bhubu Jot tunnel and road connecting Mandi and Kullu districts.
Himachal Tribune