CM says road network in apple belt being improved

Shimla, Apr 15 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said roads in the apple belt of the state were being improved to facilitate transportation of the horticulture produce to the markets in the other states of the country.

The state government was seeking Rs 2,500 crore World Bank loan for the widening and repairing of roads, he said, while addressing a gathering on the 60th Himachal Day function held at Rohru in Shimla district of the state.

Referring to Theog-Hatkoti and all Dhank-Poanta Sahib-Raunhat-Rohru roads in the state, Mr Singh said widening and repair of these roads would facilitate transportation of apples to the markets in the other states.

Every gram panchayat of the state would be connected with a motorable road by the end of this financial year, he said.

He said record funds were being made available for road construction, improvement and mettling, adding that the state government had earmarked a sum of Rs 2,000 for the purpose last year.

The Chief Minister said every eligible person would get social welfare pension on which the state government was spending a sum of Rs 54 crore annually.

In all, social security pension was being distributed to 2.12 elderly people, widows and the handicapped, he added.

He said another 25,000 eligible people would be added to the list, increasing the annual expenditure on it to Rs 60 crore.

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