Manali-Leh highway opens to normal traffic

The Border Roads Organisation restored Manali-Leh highway to normal traffic beyond Darcha towards Sarchu in Lahaul and Spiti district yesterday. The highway was blocked to traffic beyond Darcha towards Sarchu because of heavy snowfall at Baralacha Pass three days ago.

According to the police, the movement of vehicles towards Sarchu beyond Darcha on the highway will be allowed from 8 am to 11 am. Similarly from Sarchu towards Darcha, the movement of vehicles will be allowed from 11 am to 2 pm every day.

However, the movement of vehicles will depend on weather conditions because this highway crosses several high mountain passes, which may receive heavy snow any time in case of bad weather in the region.

NHAI awards Rs 1,583 cr Shimla road work to Chetak Enterprises

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded the Rs 1,583-crore contract for Shimla bypass project to Chetak Enterprises.
NHAI has issued letter of award for development of “two-laning” of proposed Shimla Bypass (Kaithalighat to Shimla section) of NH 22″ for 27 km to Chetak Enterprises, NHAI said in a statement today.
The NH 22 (now NH 5) is a part of Hindustan Tibet Road and is a major link to Indo-Tibet border.
It connects tourist destination as well as state capital Shimla and vital link for apple transportation from Kinnaur Valley to rest of the country.
“The 27 km long Shimla Bypass shall be executed on Hybrid Annuity mode and completed in 30 months from the date of commencement of the project,” the statement said.
The project will have three tunnels of a total length of about 2 km, nine major bridges out of which one would be a cable stayed bridge, 4 minor bridges and 89 culverts.
It said the project would be developed on a new alignment and not only decongest Shimla city from non-destined traffic but also improve connectivity to Indo-Tibet Border and other tourist places in the region.

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File affidavit on progress of work - HC

HP High Court today directed the consultant of the Theog– Hatkoti –Rohru road project to file an affidavit explaining the position of the construction work.
While passing this order, a division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sureshwar Thakur expressed its displeasure over the progress of the construction work and directed the consultant to file an affidavit within a week. He listed the matter for further hearing on January 5.
The court passed these orders on public interest litigation on the delay in construction of Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road.
It was informed to the court that works on this road was not satisfactory.

CM urges people to donate land for road construction

The government would check the quality of roads being constructed  throughout the State and is committed to provide road connectivity to left out areas, said Chief Minister  Virbhadra Singh while addressing the gathering at Badiyara and Mandli after he performed the Bhumi Poojan of Badiyara-Tikkar-Diswani road and foundation stone laying ceremony of Channelisation of Pabbar River .
The Chief Minister said that people should make some sacrifice in order to get their areas developed and should voluntarily donate land for the development projects. “One should voluntarily donate land for roads as its opens new vistas of development in those areas and where ever desired by the land owners, the government would provide adequate compensation to them", he said. He also urged for speedy transfer of land in this regard. He said that a double lane bridge would be constructed near Samoli connecting Mehandali by-pass road adding that Rohru to Dhamwari road along with Jangla valley roads would be widened and mettaled. He said that a parallel road would also be constructed to connect the bus stand by constructing a bridge over Shikhri river.

He said that Government Senior Secondary School buildings at Masli and Bhaloon Kainchi were being expanded with additional blocks besides construction of a PWD rest house at Dodra. He said that we want to provide better environment and infrastructure to the students. The Chief Minister said that the government had opened as many as 94 colleges in the State and over the last two and half years our Government has opened over 24 colleges mostly in rural and far flung areas to benefit the Girl Child. He said that the GSSS (girls) in Rohru would be made a model school with hostel facilities on analogy of Portmore School, Shimla.

Virbhadra Singh said that the people of the area would be benefitted by Hydel projects being constructed in Rohru as it will to solve the electricity problems in times to come. He added that the power from such projects would be provided to residents of Rohru before being distributed further.

He said that the government mulls to channelise Andhra river in Chirgaon bazzar so that the bazzar could be protected from floods. He said a sum of Rupees 50 lakhs had been released for construction of Bus Stand at Chirgaon and if required more funds would be provided for its completion.

He said that no construction would be allowed on river beds after channelisation on the land reclaimed. He also listed the developments works worth crore in Rohru.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Vidya Stokes, while addressing the gathering said that the government was committed to provide irrigational and drinking water facility to the people of the State and left out habitations by 2016. She said that out of 53,604 habitations as many as 40,458 habitations had been provided drinking water facilities till March 2015 and the department targets to provide water to 2,074 habitations by 2015-16.

Earlier, MLA Rohru welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and listed the developments of the area.

President DCC Shimla Rural,  Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman Zila Parishad,  Chandreshwar Prasad,  Chairperson, Child Welfare Council,  Rajkumari Soni, Vice-Chairman HIMUDA,  Yashwant Chajjata, Chairman, NAC, Rohru,  Rajkumar Nittu,  President Block Congress Committee,  Ishwar Dass Choharu, Member Women Commission, Smt. Kiran Dutta, Member BoD, Forest Corporation,  Surendra Rekta, Member BoD, HPSIDC,  Devendar Khurana, General Secretary HPCC, Smt. Geeta Negi, President, Shimla Youth Parliamentary Constituency,  Sanjay Thakur,  ADM Shimla,  DK Rattan, SP Shimla,  D.W. Negi were also present on the occasion amongst others.

Himachal HC summons firm building Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road

Shimla, Aug 31 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed officials of a private company engaged in building a World Bank-funded road in Shimla's prominent apple belt, to appear in court on September 8 over its failure to achieve milestones in the construction. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the orders on a public suit on the delay in constructing the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road.

The court also directed the state government to file response to the suggestions made by the court-appointed two-member committee in terms of the latest report submitted by it.
In December last year, the bench took suo motu cognizance and treated the petition as a public suit but excluded the petitioner - Narender Bragta, horticulture minister in the previous BJP government - from the case as he was a former minister.
The petition sought directions to the state government to complete the construction of the 80-km long Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru stretch efficiently and properly within the stipulated time-frame before June 1, 2016.

from https://in.news.yahoo.com/himachal-hc-summons-firm-building-world-bank-funded-134404760.html

Parwanoo-Shimla four-laning project set to take off soon

Decks have been cleared for commencement of work on the first phase of Rs 2518 crore Parwanoo - Shimla four-laning project with the award of work from Parwanoo to Solan for Rs 748 crores to G R Infra Limited. The work on the project is likely to begin from September as the condition to make 80 per cent of land available has been fulfilled.
Forest clearance of 37 hectares of land and time limit of 30 months has been set for completion of the project from the date of actual commencement of work, said Project National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Satish Kaul.
Efforts are afoot to settle arbitration cases in respect of 20 hectare of land acquired from private persons. The NHAI has expressed willingness to pay the entire award money when the arbitration cases are settled.
Under the project, one 825 metre one-way tunnel would be constructed near Barog Bypass, besides two railway over bridges at Sanawar and Barog Bypass and a flyover at Kumarhatti, reducing the distance by three km.
Besides, realignment of about seven km of road would reduce the length of the road to 39 km from the present 42 km. About 21-km long service roads will also be constructed at Dharampur and Solan while a toll barrier would be erected at Sanawar, he said.
Forest clearances have been accorded for 28 hectares of forest land in the second phase of the project from Solan to Kaithali Ghat (23 km) while arbitration proceedings are underway in respect of 26 hectares land acquired for the project.
The second phase to be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 570 crores envisages construction of 460 m long tunnel at Kandaghat and two railway over bridges at Kandaghat and Chambaghat.
The alignment for 27-km-long highway in the third phase from Kaithali Ghat to Dhalli would be totally new and will not touch the existing highway at any point. Link roads would be provided for the convenience of people to move to the old highway. A salient feature of the third phase of the project costing Rs 1200 crore would be construction of three tunnels near Anandpur, Shogi and at Dhalli with total length of about 2-km and an ultra modern single span 600 m long bridge at Malyana which would not only shorten the distance considerably but also save thousands of trees from being axed. Clearance of 40.3 hectares of forest land has been sought under this phase of the project. The total length of the Parwanoo- Shimla four-lane highway would be 89 km while the estimated cost would be Rs 2518 crores.

Source: The Tribune

Bragta hails HC intervention on Theog road

BJP leader and former Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta hailed the intervention of the High Court for early completion of the Theog-Hatkoti road.
He said after the intervention of the High Court, it looked possible that the road would be constructed within a year.

Accusing the state government of favouring the construction company C&C, he said it was given the tender despite losing the financial bid and the government had been claiming that the road would be completed in two years. The contract should have been split into two parts and awarded to two companies for early completion. “With the onset of the monsoon the Theog-Hatkoti road is full of mud, causing inconvenience to commuters,” he added.

Speed up work on roads in apple belt: Virbhadra

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh directed the PWD to speed up work on the Theog-Kharapathar-Hatkoti road and other roads after he laid the stone of the Rs 10 crore parking-cum-five-storey national highway office block near the PWD headquarters here today.
He also directed the department to ensure that all link roads and other alternative routes in the apple belt were well-maintained to ensure smooth transportation of apples and also asked the department for regular monitoring of the work on the road.
All bottlenecks on the road should be removed as this road was the priority of the state government. “As many in the Opposition are playing politics on the road, my government intends that road should be completed without delay and I will monitor its progress”, said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister was also briefed about the ongoing work of the PWD rest house near Barnes Court. The rest house was damaged due to heavy landslide and felling of trees during the last monsoon. The rest house will have 36 rooms with separate dormitories, said Chief Architect NK Negi.
Engineer-in-Chief Naresh Sharma briefed the Chief Minister about the major works being carried out by the department and the new proposals in hand. He said that the E-in-C office of quality control and designs at the US Club would be shifted after completion of the NH Block, the foundation stone of which was laid today.
Later, a delegation of the Star overseas Group with members from Russia called upon the Chief Minister at his official residence and evinced keen interest in investing in the hydel sector besides construction of roads and tunnels.

CM directs C&C Co. to expedite work on Theog-Kharapathar-Hakoti road

The work on Theog-Kharapathar-Hatkoti (TKH) road should be expedited and the major bottlenecks would be removed before the apple season sets in, stated Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the review meeting of Public Works Department and the representatives of the Chadha and Chadha (C&C) Construction Company here today.

The Chief Minister said the focus should be to blacktop the six kilometers on both sides of Kharapathar by end of June positively with proper drainage system so as to provide much needed relief to the people of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru and adjoining areas for transportation of their apple produce. He said that this was the most critical area and needs to be properly metalled besides carrying on the routine work. He said the alternative roads would also be repaired for transporting apple 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.

 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.

He directed the company to undertake the work on war-footing. The Chief Minster also said that wherever the land acquisition process for widening of the road had been completed and it should be taken over as soon as possible.

 I know some people were creating hindrances on the issue of land acquisition which was causing delay in constructing the road, he said. The Chief Minister asked the local elected representatives of the party to intervene where such cases were found and get the issues solved amicably. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor such cases. He said  revenue officials be directed to be on the spot along with the PWD authorities where issues of acquisition was involved and not to un-necessary create hindrances and also asked the representative of C&C Company to keep liaison with the Deputy Commissioner and to seek his help in case of any problem.

 The Chief Minister directed the PWD Department to blacklist those contractors who have been assigned the task of some major road projects and were delaying the work on the same. He also ordered that the departments concerned to give immediate permission to the company for using mobile crushers at Kharapathar wherein he directed the C&C Company to complete the codal formalities as soon as possible for mobile crushers.

 “The people of the area were expecting bumper apple crop this season and I want that they may not face any inconvenience in transporting their crop” he said, adding that the TKH road was priority of the State Government.

  Inquiring about the Lal Dhang- Paonta- Rajban (LPR) road which has been declared as National Highway, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction on the ongoing work from Paonta Sahib onwards and directed the PWD to blacklist the contractor who was delaying the work on LPR road.

 Capt Rajbir Singh the MD of C&C company assured the Chief Minister that he will definitely start the metalling work from 1st June, 2015 completing  22 kilometers patch of road from Theog to Gumma and the 12 kilometers road from Rohro towards Hatkoti.

 The Chief Minister also directed the authorities to blacktop certain portion of road at Chailla in front of Primary Health Centre.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Rohit Thakur, MLAs Mr Balbir Verma, Mr Mohan Lal Brakta, Chairman, HP Housing Board, Mr Yashwant Chajta, Chairman APMC, Mr Mahendar Stan, Additional Chief Secretary, Mr V.C. Pharka, ACS (PWD), Mr Narinder Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Dinesh Malhotra, Engineer-in-Chief PWD, Mr Naresh Sharma, Special secretary Finance, Mr Akshay Sood were also present on the occasion amongst the representatives of C&C Company.

Rohtang road to reopen by mid-May

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will reopen the 13,050-foot-high Rohtang Pass by the middle of this month.
Col KP Rajendra Kumar, Commander, 38 Border Road Task Force (BRTF), Manali, said the national highway would be cleared of snow up to Darcha probably by May 15. “We have cleared the snow up to the Rani Nullah and the majestic Rohtang Pass is nearly 6 km away,” the Commander said.
However, throwing the highway open for normal traffic could take some time due to repair of the road, he added. The BRO had launched the snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Leh highway on March 19. The Rohtang Pass is strategically important to maintain supplies for the armed forces posted in the forward areas of the Ladakh region along the borders with China. The Commander said they would restore the road up to Sarchu by end of this month, while the remaining stretch would be opened for the vehicular traffic by June 15. During the snow-clearing operation, BRO personnel encountered several feet of snow. Some patches were covered under more than 40 feet of snow. Around 250 BRO personnel were engaged in the operation from both sides of the road, he said.
The Commander said eight dozers, two snow cutters and four excavators were pressed into service to make it motorable as early as possible.
The work to clear snow usually starts in the first week of March. But this time, the restoration of the highway was delayed due to prolonged unfavourable weather conditions.

Farmers seek market rate for land

Farmers have sought market rate for their land to be acquired for the four-laning of the Nerchowk to Manali stretch of the National Highway-21.
Farmers from six villages — Aut, Banala, Panarsa, Takoli, Nagwain and Jhiri — held a meeting at Nagwain in this regard today and decided to intensify their struggle for fair compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement package for their land and assets to be acquired, as per the new Land Acquisition Ordinance, promulgated on January 1 this year.
Brigadier Khushal Thakur (retd), who presided over the meeting, said farmers were seeking humane, participative, informed and transparent approach from the Centre, the state, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the land acquisition agencies.
He said the present land acquisition process was a colourful exercise of power and to rush the entire process of land acquisition to cheat and betray the innocent poor farmers at large by taking away their land for pittance and forcing them to spend their rest of lives with a begging bowl.
Brig Thakur further said: “The provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, are such wherein declaration under Section 3(d) if made, which is likely to be made very shortly to bypass the new Land Acquisition Act, will empower the state to take away land free from all encumbrances without even assessing and completing the inquiry relating to compensation. Thereafter, it cannot be even appealed in any court of law.”
Farmers had lodged their grievances and apprehensions with the Senior Land Acquisition Officer, Pandoh, on April 24, but nothing had been done so far, he said.
Despite repeated requests, no rehabilitation and resettlement schemes had been prepared by the state government and the NHAI, he said, adding that no rehabilitation and resettlement mechanism, as given in the new law, had been started which was a grave violation of the constitutional rights of the public.
“The land which is being acquired from Aut to Manali is commercial, multi-cropped irrigated land, having orchards, shops, used for tourism and other economic activities. Current land prices have gone up considerably over the years and unfortunately the market rate fixed by the Collector has not moved in tandem with these inflationary and developmental trends,” he said.
He said: “The Collector’s market rates are flawed and do not indicate the accurate prevailing market rates. The market rate formula is outdated, unfair, undervalued to evade stamp duty and as such should be re-examined and revised. If there is an error in determining the Collector’s market rate, the new land law will only compound that error in awarding the compensation in multiples of that value.”
To give just and fair compensation to farmers and affected communities as well as to arrive at realistic and accurate market value of the land, the aspects as explained need to be factored in taking into confidence the affected farmers and communities through consultation and dialogue mechanism, he said.
Brig Thakur said farmers were not against land acquisition for defence, economic and developmental purposes, but they were worried about their future and livelihood and as such were forced to spend sleepless nights.
The social and economic status of a farmer and affected communities post acquisition must get enhanced, he said.

Source:Tribune News Service

Theog-Hatkoti road to be completed next year: CM

The Chief Minister, who was presiding over the concluding ceremony of three-day long State level Rohru festival at Rohru today, said that this road existed as State highway since 1968 but was de-notified by the previous BJP government to ‘district rural road’ in May, 2001.

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.

BJP blames govt for poor condition of Kiratpur-Mandi highway

In a statement, BJP spokesperson Ajay Rana said the state government and its officials always blamed the bad weather conditions for the poor condition of roads.
“The Border Roads Organisation is maintaining the nearly 400 km Manali-Leh highway under difficult circumstances,” he said and added that despite getting crores of rupees, the state government had failed to maintain the nearly 100 km stretch from Kiratpur to Mandi on the NH-21 for the past two years.
Potholes and ditches in the highway were filled with loose soil to fool the public, he alleged.
He said due to the poor condition of the highway, taxi operators and other business establishments were losing their business.
Appreciating the decision taken by the district administration to register a criminal case against officials of the National Highway Authority of India in case of a mishap, he said the BJP had already alerted the administration about the pathetic condition of the highway.
He said appreciated a campaign “hole-in-whole” on the social media about the condition of the highway.

Narinder Bragta takes credit

Former Horticulture Minister and BJP vice-president Narinder Bragta today took credit for the declaration of the Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru as the national highway and in-principal approval to the Mendli-Tikkar-Baghi-Narkanda as another national highway. The announcement was made by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda here.

The UPA government and earlier governments could not made a proper road to the major apple belt of the state even after 50 years, claimed Bragta. But the Central Government did it in a few months, he said while addressing mediapersons here. Bragta said had led a delegation to the Union Minister for Surface Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari and then Nadda made the formal announcement.


Source: Tribune

Read Related:NH status for three roads in state

NH status for three roads in state

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda made this announcement after holding talks with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.
Nadda said the Centre had already granted five national highways with a length of 630 km for Himachal. He said the three national highways would improve road network.
The Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road is the lifeline for apple growers in upper Shimla. This road with a length of 80 km will be extended and connected to Tikkar-Baggi-Narkanda. The second road to be granted the national highway status is the 60 km Una-Basoli-Badsar-Bhota road. The third road is the 75 km Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Banethi-Nahan road.
Nadda announced that Rs 3,008 crore had been approved for the 90-km Parwanoo-Shimla four-lane project. Similarly, Rs 1,818 crore approved for the road from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk while the proposal for Kullu-Manali road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 4,400 crore had also been given nod, he said.
He said the three industrial corridors would be from Bilaspur in Haryana to Kala Amb in Sirmour district, Shalaghat-Ramshahar and the Nalagarh-Khajurna-Kala Amb corridor.
“After the deliberations held, it has also been decided to allocate Rs 40 crore for improving the condition of the Kiratpur-Manali national highway, considering the importance of this road and it will be fourlaned up to Kullu,” he said.
He said efforts would be made to hold frequent meetings to expedite approvals. He said the Chamunda-Holi tunnel project would be considered. “I have asked the HP Government to submit a proposal for strengthening the roads along the borders as strengthening of infrastructure along these areas is the priority of the Centre,” he said.

Gift for the hill state

• The 80-km Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road will be extended and connected to Tikkar-Baggi-Narkanda
• The second road is the Una-Basoli-Badsar-Bhota road
• The third is the Kumarhatti-Sarahan-Banethi-Nahan road
• Besides Rs 3,008 crore has been approved for the 90-km Parwanoo-Shimla four-lane project
• Rs 1,818 crore approved for Kiratpur to Ner Chowk

Three industrial corridors

• Bilaspur in Haryana to Kala Amb in Sirmour district
• Shalaghat-Ramshaha
• Nalagarh-Khajurna-Kala Amb

Chief Minister stresses for periodic maintenance of national highways

Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh said that despite tough topographical conditions, the state government was making consistent efforts for construction of roads as these were the only life-line of the people of this hilly state which also play an important role in economic growth and social development. Roads were the only medium of the transport in the state, and government was committed to provide connectivity to the remotest village in the State.

He was speaking during review meeting of national highways and Central Road Fund (CRF) works in the state, which was also attended by the Union Health Minister Mr J.P Nadda on behalf of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India.

The Chief Minister urged the union ministry of road transport and highways for handing over the maintenance of roads under Border Roads Organization (BRO) to the state public works department as these roads needed to be repaired twice in a year once after snowfall and once after rainy season was over.

He demanded for maintenance and broadening of old Hindustan-Tibet national highway in Kinnaur district which was the only permanent and reliable solution for many years to come. He also requested for a survey to be conducted soon to explore possibilities of constructing tunnel between Chamunda to Holi which would not only considerably reduce the distance between Chamba and Kangra districts but would also ensure all weather connectivity.

The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had around 66 percent forest land and therefore almost for every project, forest clearance was required. The state had already taken up the matter with the union government to empower state government for giving permissions up to minimum five hectares of area including roads, which would help in completing the projects well in time besides cutting down the unnecessary expenditure.

He also urged the union government for allotment of more funds for roads and road safety works for the state.

Union Minister Mr J.P Nadda stressed that works on the national highways should be expedited and completed in time bound manner besides ensuring timely repair and maintenance. He suggested that state government should look for constructing concrete roads which could be more meaningful especially in the snowbound areas.

Mr Nadda assured that union ministry of road transport and highways would consider re-opening of old Hindustan-Tibet national highway as a parallel road besides exploring possibilities of tunnel between Chamunda to Holi.

He also ensured that the central ministry would sanction financial assistance for the Kiratpur-Ner Chok road project on 50:50 cost ratio with the state Government.

It was agreed in the meeting that Nahan and Reckong Peo would also be connected with national highways.

The state government raised the issue of declaring Una-Jahu, Barsar-Jahu, Jahu-Kalkhar, Theog-Rohru, Sarkaghat-Ghumarwin, Ranital-Kotla, Kumarhatti-Nahan, Draman-Sinhuta and Bhawarna-Lambagaon roads as national highways as these were major roads in the state for which land acquisition has already been done by the state on its own expenses.

It was informed that work on construction of Chikni Khud bridge was completed whereas work on bridges of Bathu and Bajgar Khad was nearing completion.

The state Government also urged for strengthening and improvement of Nauni-Brahampukhar, Kandraur-Bamta, Mehali-Shoghi-Dhalli, Chirgaon-Dodra Kwar-Netwar, Kolar-Bilaspur, Patasri-Shtrauntha-Tikkar roads.

The Chief Minister and the Union Minister also released the H.P Government Rural Roads Maintenance Policy, 2015 brought out by the state public works department.

Principal Secretary (PWD) Mr Narender Chauhan conducted the proceedings of the meeting.

Members of Parliament Mr Virender Kashyap and Mr Ram Swarup Sharma, Additional Chief Secretaries Mr V.C Pharka, Mr Tarun Mrdhar and Mr P.C Dhiman, Chief Engineer (North), MoRTH Mr A.K Mrvastva, other senior officers of the state and government of India attended the meeting.

BJP welcomes HC order

The state BJP has welcomed the orders passed by the High Court to monitor the report on the progress of ongoing construction work on the Theog-Hatkoti road on a fortnightly basis.
Former BJP minister Narinder Bragata, who had launched an agitation and also filed a PIL for the early completion of the road, said the committee constituted by the BJP to review the progress of work would soon submit its report which would be sent to the Governor and the World Bank, funding the project.

He said if the pressure of people and intervention of High Court helps in speeding up the work, the BJP would be obliged to the High Court.

Source: Tribune India

Himachal HC seeks report on World Bank-funded road project

Shimla, March 23 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed a committee constituted by it to file a status report within a fortnight over the delay in the construction of a World Bank-funded road project in a prominent apple belt in Shimla. The court directed that the first milestone of the 80-km Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru stretch should be achieves within the time-frame and cautioned that any dereliction or violation by any official or the contractor, including breach of the contract, shall amount to contempt of court.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a public interest litigation on delay in construction of the road. The bench had earlier constituted a committee, comprising the chief secretary, the principal secretary (public works) and the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department to monitor the progress of work. The government on Monday prayed for four weeks' time to show the results, saying the work was hampered due to inclement weather. Amicus curiae Jyotsna Rewal Dua informed the court that the milestones have not been achieved, rather these were changed due to bad weather.
Countering the affidavit of the government, advocate Devider Chauhan said the total length of the project was 80.6 km, which has been divided into two sections. The first milestone of 0-20 km of the first part of the project, and 48-58 km of the second part of the project are to be completed by June 2015. The court listed the matter for next hearing on April 27.

Source: IANS

BJP forms panel to review progress

Narinder Bragta, vice-president of Himachal BJP, who spearheaded the agitation for the early completion of widening of the 80-km Theog-Hatkoti road, today constituted an action committee to review the progress of the project.
Ravinder Chauhan, spokesman for the action committee,said the committee, comprising presidents and office-bearers of BJP Mandals of Shimla district, would give its report within 15 days and the same would be submitted to the Governor and the High Court.
Balbir Thakur, vice-president, state Kisan Morcha, would be the convenor of the committee. It would seek help of experts to prepare a detailed report with suggestions to speed up the work, he added.
The crucial road in the apple belt had been the bone of contention between the Congress and the BJP and both the parties had tried to draw political mileage from the project during the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Theog Hatkoti Rohru road closed

Theog Hatkoti Rohru road is closed for the traffic due to landslides at various places. There were landslides and shooting stones, triggered by heavy rains, between Gumma, Kotkhai, Kharapather and Sanaba.

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