HP demands two new National Highways

Shimla, Sep 21 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Gulab Singh Thakur has requested the Centre to declare 91 kms long Nagrota-Ranital-Dehra-Mubarkpur road and 160 Kms Paonta-Rajban -Shillai-Meanus-Hatkoti road as National Highways.

In a letter written to Union Minister for Transport and Highways TR Baalu, he stated that Planning Commission had already given its approval for declaring these two roads as National Highways and the ministry should issue necessary notifications in this regard.

Mr Thakur also demanded Rs 40 crore central assistance for undertaking repair and reconstruction work on various roads which have been badly damaged due to excessive rainfall in the state.

He demanded that right of way criteria for National Highways in the State should be fixed at 18 mtrs. The Central Government has fixed criteria of right of way for National Highways as minimum 30 mtrs while the hill road manual prescribes right of way of 24 mtrs in normal circumstances and 18 mtrs in exceptional circumstances for national highways in hill areas.

The Minister requested to increase bank of sanction factor for Himachal Pradesh from present 3.5 to 6 on the pattern of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghlaya keeping in view of similar geographical and topographical conditions. He told that working season in the Himachal Pradesh is very limited in comparison to around 10 months working season in plains.

He demanded sanction of Rs 102.77 crore under central road fund for current financial year and demanded that bank of sanction should be increased to six times the expenditure of CRF as well as on National Highways.

UNI XC PS BK1901