CM to launch Rs 1,365 crore WB road project on May 28

Shimla, May 15 (UNI) An ambitious Rs 1,365 crore World Bank funded road project for development of road infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh would be formally launched by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal from Una on May 28.

This was disclosed by state PWD Minister Thakur Gulab Singh, while presiding over the high level review meeting on Himachal Pradesh Roads Project here.

He said the roads project would put the road infrastructure of this hill state on fast track and added that the Project involved upgradation of about 436 km of state highways and all major roads in the districts.

The total cost of this project was Rs 1,365.43 crore out of which Rs 990 crore would be the World Bank loan and Rs 375.43 crore as borrower component, he added.

Mr Singh said 90 per cent of the proceeds of this loan amount of Rs 990 crore would be made available to the state by Centre on a grant basis.

Under the first phase of this project, 231.69 km state roads would be upgraded which included 44.82 km Mehatpur-Una-Amb road, 45 km Una-Barsar Road, 45.80 km Barsar-Jahu road, 15.39 km Jahu-Kalkhar raod and 80.68 km Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru Road, he added.

He said under the second phase of this project the total 203.66 km road length would be upgraded.

The minister said Bio Engineering Component has been introduced for the first time in this project to ensure ecological safeguards while executing this project.

He said while taking up the upgradation of these roads, special emphasis would be laid on plantation of trees and ornamental plants on both sides of the roads.

The State Road Project would be implemented through the Himachal Pradesh Road Infrastructure Development Corporation, he said and added this project would be completed by December 2012.

UNI AS PS BK1712