By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 6 Mar: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, at a hotel near Vyasi today. It may be recalled that Gadkari is currently on a several day tour to Uttarakhand. On this occasion, the CM thanked the Union Minister for expediting the construction of the Dehradun Delhi elevated road. The Chief Minister also urged the Union Minister to expedite the DPR for the construction of the Dehradun-Tehri tunnel. Dhami and Gadkari discussed the projects regarding construction of state and national roads etc in the state. The Chief Minister also requested Gadkari to approve the proposals sent by the State Government to the Central Government. Gadkari assured the Chief Minister of quick action on the proposals submitted by the state.
Dhami informed Gadkari that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India had given in-principle approval to declare 6 state roads as national highways, but a formal approval in this regard is still awaited from the Centre. Among them are highways such as Khairna-Ranikhet, Buakhal. – Devprayag, Devprayag – Gaja – Khadi, Pandukhal – Nagchulakhal – Badger, Biharigarh – Roshanabad, Laxmanjhula – Dugadda – Mohan – Ranikhet.
In addition, the CM also urged the Union Minister to notify the 189 km Kathgodam-Bhimtal Dhanachuli-Mornola-Khetikhan-
It may be recalled that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been nominated as the executing agency by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, for the works of the important 2-lane tunnel project of Mussoorie. All the works of the first phase of this project are being done by the Public Works Department, National Highway Division of Uttarakhand in an effective manner and with time schedule. This project is worth about Rs 2000 crore. On getting the work of the project to the Uttarakhand Public Works Department, the state government will get about Rs 60 crore as agency charges. Uttarakhand Public Works Department has completed most of the works of Chardham project, construction of flyovers and tunnels in the state within time and efficiently. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to allot the work of Mussoorie Tunnel to Uttarakhand Public Works Department.
The Chief Minister said that tourists going to Mussoorie travel via Dehradun city, due to which the number of vehicles in the city is continuously increasing. The work of Dehradun Ring Road is being done by NHAI. Action for finalisation of alignment and preparation of DPR is being taken by NHAI. This work is under consideration in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The Chief Minister informed the Union Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari that a proposal has been made to pay Rs 12.95 crore and forwarded to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. In view of the matter being urgent and sensitive, the Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to give approval on top priority to this proposal.
