Center approves several road projects: Vikramaditya Singh

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Shimla, August 11

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday said several development projects for Himachal Pradesh had received approval from the Center following his recent visit to Delhi, where he met Union ministers and senior Congress leaders.

Addressing a press conference in Shimla after returning from Delhi, Singh said he met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed various ongoing and proposed road projects in the state.

He said a Rs 25-crore Detailed Project Report (DPR) for improving the Luhri-Ot road in Banjar, Kullu, had been approved by the Center.

A DPR worth Rs 1,775 crore has been submitted for the Jalori Tunnel project, while Rs 395 crore has been sanctioned for the Nagrota Bagwan-National Highway project in Kangra, Singh said.

He added that Rs 240 crore had been approved for upgrading the Theog-Jubbal-Kotkhai road in Shimla district. The project would help apple growers in the region transport their produce to markets on time, he said.

Singh also said a new Him-Chandigarh city would be developed near Baddi and a DPR for basic infrastructure in the area would soon be submitted to the Center.

The Shimla vegetable market would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore, with the first phase costing Rs 150 crore and set to begin soon, he said.

Under the AMRUT scheme, development work is being undertaken for 31 local bodies, while modern machinery would be installed to improve sewerage systems. A vending zone in Manali would also be developed at a cost of Rs 12 crore, Singh said.

During his Delhi visit, the minister also met Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal. He said discussions were held on strengthening the party organization in Himachal Pradesh.

Asked about the absence of ministerial duties for flag hoisting in districts on Independence Day, Singh said it was a government decision, and all ministers had been assigned responsibilities.

On recent remarks by Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma, Singh said everyone had the right to express their views in a democracy, but elected representatives should not forget to maintain decorum.

“Everyone has the right to express their views in a democracy, but public representatives should maintain decorum,” he said.