Damages to roads, bridges estimated at Rs 448 cr

Shimla, Sep 29 (UNI) Incessant rains and flash floods have caused damage estimated at Rs 448.37 crore to the roads and bridges in the state, PWD and Revenue Minister Thakur Gulab Singh said.

Damages worth Rs 348 crore had been caused to state roads and Rs 100 crore to the National Highways. Out of the total 5,200 roads in the state, 2,745 roads were badly damaged and blocked for vehicular traffic. Six major bridges were also washed away, Mr Gulab Singh said while presiding over the review meeting to take stock of the relief and rehabilitation operations in the state here today.

"Surface of the roads has been washed away and immense damages have also been caused to the retaining walls, breast walls, roadside drains etc," he said.

To take up repair and maintenance works of the damaged roads and bridges the state government has released Rs 20 crore to the State Public Works Department from maintenance funds and Rs 30 crore from the Calamity Relief Funds, he said.

Mr Thakur said that in Shimla District the damage to roads was maximum and funds to the tune of Rs 6818.68 lakh were required for restoration of the same while Rs 4838 lakh and Rs 4708.29 lakh were required for restoration of rain damages to roads and bridges in Kangra and Mandi districts respectively.

He said that all the major national roads, state roads and district roads had been opened for regular traffic. Out of the total over 5,200 roads only 348 roads, which are link roads, remained to be opened and it would be opened within next 2-3 days.

Sarchu road in Lahaul and Spiti district has been re-opened and all the 150 people stranded at Sarchu and Bharatpur have been brought to Manali.

UNI XC PS MMS1817