By Our Staff Reporter
New Delhi, 24 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called on Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari here, today, and discussed in detail various projects related to road connectivity in Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister presented a shawl made of Kandali (Stinging Nettle) along with other local products of the state to the Union Minister. The Chief Minister urged the Union Road Transport Minister for financial and administrative approval on the proposals regarding CRIF (Central Road Infrastructure Fund). Gadkari said that the state will be given approval for a project worth Rs 250 crores under CRIF.
Dhami requested Gadkari to sanction the amount under FDR (C) for repairs of the national highways damaged by natural calamity in the hills. The Union Minister said that, for this, a proposal should be sent again under the flood damage repair scheme. The Chief Minister also requested approval of the Uttarakhand Public Works Department (PWD) as the executing agency for the work of improving and widening National Highway No. 109, to which the Union Minister gave his consent. At the request of the Chief Minister, the Union Minister also directed the officials of NHAI to expedite work on the crucial 2-lane tunnel project in Mussoorie.
The Chief Minister also requested approval for the DPR costing Rs 367.35 crores for the 2-lane widening of National Highway No. 123 from Damta to Barkot connecting Yamunotri Dham. He stressed that this route is an alternative for the Chardham Yatra. The Union Minister assured early approval of this proposal.
Dhami urged Gadkari to get the Khatima-Pilibhit bypass constructed through NHAI and the Union Minister agreed to consider the project. For the construction of Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) on Khatima-Melaghat-Vanamaholia Road and Khatima-Lohia Road, the Union Minister instructed the officials to conduct feasibility tests for the ROBs concerned. The CM informed the Union Minister that action is being taken to finalise the alignment of the Dehradun Ring Road construction work by NHAI. He sought early approval under NH-(O). Union Minister instructed NHAI to take immediate action on this.
Speedy approval was sought on the proposal to convert National Highway No. 87E0 (Jyolikot to Karnaprayag) connecting Kumaon to Garhwal Mandal and National Highway No. 72B0 (Fedij to Sanail) connecting Uttarakhand and Himachal states to 2-lane ones. Keeping in view the high traffic density in Srinagar urban area, the Chief Minister also sought construction of a bypass. Gadkari promised early approval of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of these projects.
Dhami further informed Gadkari that, with the construction of a 5 km long tunnel between Jolingkang (Beas Valley) in district Pithoragarh and Beadag, along with a 20 km road from Vedang to Go and Sipu, the road from Tawaghat to Vedang constructed by BRO and CPWD would become connected. It would reduce the distance between Jolingkang and Bedang by 161 kms. Darma Valley and Johar Valley would be connected to each other by the construction of a tunnel of about 22 km length between Sipu and Tola. He said that with the construction of a 30 km tunnel from Milam to Lathal, the Johar Valley of Pithoragarh district and the Lathal road of Chamoli district could also be connected as a result.
The Chief Minister added that with the construction of these 3 tunnel routes and 20 km road, the distance from Jolingkang to Lapthal would be reduced to just about 42 km, which at present is 490 km. The Chief Minister also requested construction of a motor road from Go village to Vedang and construction of about 19 km long motor road and about 3 km long tunnel from both sides to connect Jolingkang village in Darma Valley with Vedang village in Vyas Valley. PWD Minister Satpal Maharaj and Secretary, PWD, Dr Pankaj Pandey, were also present during the meeting.
