'HP to spend Rs 2000 cr on road infrastructure'

Shimla, Nov 29: Himachal Pradesh Excise and Taxation Minister Rangila Ram Rao has said the government will spend Rs 2,000 crore on improving road infrastructure in the state during the next two years.

Efforts were also on to connect all the left out panchayats by roads by 2008, he said in a release here yesterday.

Mr Rao said better road connectivity would ensure that the benefits of development reach every nook and corner of the state.

A sum of Rs 40 crore alone were being spent on construction of roads and bridges in Gopalpur constituency of Sarkaghat Sub Division of Mandi district, he said.

He said Rs 1.25 crore were being spent on maintenance and improvement of the Durgapur-Kathogan road, while Rs 1.75 crore were being spent on metalling and laying of cross drain on the Kathogan-Risha road.

In order to ensure better road connectivity within the assembly constituency, an express highway was also being constructed on Una-Bhota-Jahu-Bhambla-Kalkhar-Mandi road, he said, adding Rs 40 crore would be spent on the project, which would soon be handed over for execution.

Mr Rao said another express highway would be constructed between Jogindernagar, Sarkaghat and Ghumarwin by spending Rs 30 crore.

The state government had already sanctioned the project and construction work was likely to start from January next year, he said.

The Excise and Taxation Minister said Rs one crore would be spent on maintenance and metalling of Mahuunag-Barasamhal-Chhota Samhal road, while Rs 8.75 crore were being spent on metalling of road from Chandesh to Mahunag and Rs 20 lakh on metalling of Chandesh-Dalwan road.

UNI