Chief Minister Sukhu appealed to give national highway status to Ranital-Kotla, Ghumarwin-Jahu-Sarkaghat roads, sought Rs 172.97 crore for repair of roads

New Delhi, July 17: Taking a significant step to improve Himachal Pradesh’s road infrastructure, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged Union Road Transport and National Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to officially designate the 39.20-km-long Ranital-Kotla and 41.50-km-long Ghumarwin-Jahu-Sarkaghat roads as national highways. Speaking at a high-level review meeting of national highway projects in New Delhi, CM Sukhu highlighted the urgent need for better road connectivity in the hill state, while also seeking Rs 172.97 crore for immediate repair of roads damaged by last year’s devastating monsoon floods.

CM Sukhu stressed that Ranital-Kotla and Ghumarwin-Jahu-Sarkaghat roads have already been constructed as per national highway standards and are currently recognised as ‘in-principle national highways’. He pointed out the important role of these roads in the state’s transport network and mentioned that no new national highways have been announced for Himachal Pradesh in the last eight years. Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh also attended the meeting, giving strength to the chief minister’s appeal.

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Apart from seeking national highway status for these roads, CM Sukhu requested the release of Rs 172.97 crore for the restoration of various state roads badly damaged by flash floods and landslides during last year’s monsoon season.

He specifically mentioned Kullu-Manali, Mandi-Kamand-Katola-Bajaura and Chail-Gohar-Pandoh roads which need immediate restoration. The Chief Minister reminded Union Minister Gadkari of his last visit to the state after the monsoon disaster, during which Gadkari had assured that the central government would provide adequate funds for the repair and restoration of state roads within one kilometer of national highways.

CM Sukhu stressed the importance of these roads in reducing traffic congestion on national highways and their vital role during the last monsoon season, when significant stretches of the Kullu-Manali highway were damaged.

Highlighting another strategic concern, the chief minister pointed to the Shimla-Matour national highway, which connects eight districts with the state capital and neighbouring states. He advocated a uniform upgradation of highways from two-lane standards to four-lane standards, stressing that such an upgradation is essential to enhance road safety and efficiency.

Further, CM Sukhu mentioned that 69 in-principle national highways were declared by Gadkari, of which alignment reports for 58 were submitted for approval in 2018-19. He urged the Union Ministry to expedite the approval process for these reports, so as to facilitate faster development of the state’s infrastructure.

In response, Union Minister Gadkari assured Chief Minister Sukhu that appropriate action would be taken on each issue raised. He directed the contractors to complete the ongoing works on time, while also promising continued support from the Central Government for the development of Himachal Pradesh’s road infrastructure.

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