He said today they (BJP) were taking the credit of getting it declared as national highway just to misguide the people and the fact was that it was the present State government which taken up the issue with the government of India repeatedly for getting this road declared as national highway.
“I personally held meetings with the World Bank officials and it is the Congress government which pursued the matter time and again with the Centre for getting the road funded from the World Bank earlier in 2003, and now has been successful in getting this road declared as national highway”, he said.
The Chief Minister said, as of now, a sum of around Rs. 333 crore had been sanctioned by the World Bank for construction of road in two phases from Theog to Kharapathar and further from Kharapathar to Rohru. Though, the harsh weather and untimely rains had hindered the work, yet the government would ensure that it get completed by next year so as to provide much needed relief to the people of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru and adjoining areas. He said the alternative roads would also be repaired for transporting apple and other produce and government would ensure that the fruit reaches market well in time.
“All the alternate routes will be maintained during the apple season so that horticulturists do not face any problem in marketing their produce”, he added.
He said only those people were making irrelevant statements regarding this road who try to take political mileage by spreading rumors. If some work would have been done by the previous government, then the present government would have thought of extending this road up to Dodra-Kwar. He said the Kumarhatti-Nahan road which now had been completed, had also been declared as national highway due to the persistent efforts of the present government.
Mr Virbhadra Singh said that during the regime of previous government, as many as 13 lakh apple bags, approximately worth Rs. 35 crore under market intervention scheme (MIS) could not reach the market and was destroyed or thrown away because dilapidated condition of road, for which BJP stands responsible. However, the present government had ensured that the produce of the horticulturists reach the market well in time, he added.
He said a new bus stand was being constructed at Rohru and the buses thereafter would route through by-pass for entrance and exit. Besides, a parking would also be constructed near the new bus stand having facility to park 400 to 500 vehicles and another parking would be developed near Rohru.
The Chief Minister announced for adding 50 more beds to the civil hospital Rohru and the qualitative health services would be provided to the people of the area. Additional accommodation would be created for the school girls at Rohru along-with hostel for the girls and if required, it would be extended in the near future.
“I want to make it a modern school of girl education so that they get qualitative education near to their home”, said that Chief Minister.
He congratulated the people of the area for successfully conducting the festival and hoped that the festival would continue with the same zeal promoting the local culture and traditions.
He also distributed prizes to the winners of the sports tournament.
Local MLA Mr Mohan Lal Brakta, Block Congress President Mr I.D Chhoharu also spoke on the occasion.
Deputy Commissioner Mr Dinesh Malhotra, who is also the Chairman of the Rohru festival welcomed the Chief Minister and honoured him.
President, Nagar Parishad, Rohru Mr Raj Kumar Nittu demanded parking slots nearby Rohru bazaar.
A colourful cultural function was also presented on the occasion by the school children.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the site of the proposed bus stand at Chirgaon and directed the authorities to remove the encroachments on the land there upon immediately so that the construction work could be expedited.
Vice Chairman, HIMUDA, Mr Yashwant Chhajta, Vice President, HPCC, Smt Geeta Negi, Member BoD Industries Mr Devender Khurana, President Youth Congress Shimla constituency Mr Sanjay Thakur, President Youth Congress Rohru Mr Sujay Aggarwal were also present on the occasion.
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