Virbhadra urges Punjab to complete Baddi-Chandigarh link road

Chandigarh, Sep 19 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today appealed to the Punjab Government to complete its portion of the long-standing Baddi-Chandigarh link road.

Interacting with industrialists at a meeting of the PHD Chamber of Coommerce here, Mr Singh claimed that the much-needed road project was hanging fire due to the hurdle posed by a water body along the road and a little diversion would solve the problem. Mr Singh pointed out that Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have completed the road in their respective territories.

He also announced that the Chandigarh-Baddi railway line had been cleared and the work to complete the railway line shall commence shortly.

The Himachal CM also called upon the industrialists to set up units in the other areas of the state instead of concentrating on the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh region and avail the industry concessions.

The advantage of those areas will be low-cost of land along with the Central Government's package of incentives, he said.

Mr Singh also informed the delegates that Himachal government planned to harness 5,738 MW of additional hydro-power in the 11th Five Year Plan.

The state government was now focusing on the improvement and strengthening of the transmission and distribution system, especially in the peripheral area bordering other states, where a large number of industrial units had come up in recent years, he said.

UNI