Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh today said that the Union Government had sanctioned Rs 267 crore for various projects, including national highways, in Himachal Pradesh.
He said, “A total capital expenditure request of Rs 1,400 crore for financial year 2025-26 was submitted to the Union Government, which has released Rs 267 crore in the first phase.”
The minister said that he had requested Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari several times to expedite approvals and fund allocation for these projects. He expressed gratitude to Gadkari for sanctioning funds.
Vikramaditya said that the alignment work for the Jalori Jot tunnel had been completed and a detailed project report of Rs 1,452 crore was being prepared. He added that the Jalori Jot tunnel would have a total length of 4.156 km and the detailed project report was expected to be finalised in this financial year.
He said that the approved projects included the construction of three bridges each in Chamba and Una districts. Besides, Rs 54.37 crore had been allocated for landslide mitigation on the Nigulsari-Nathpa road and Rs 40.85 crore for landslide mitigation near the Keru bridge on the Katori Bangra-Banikhet-Chamba-Bharmour road.
Vikramaditya said that Rs 48 crore had been approved for land acquisition and the widening of the Katori Bangra-Banikhet-Chamba-Bharmour road to two lanes near the Bhatti Nala bridge. In Una district, Rs 24.27 crore had been sanctioned for the preparation of a detailed project report for the construction of two bridges over Barna and Bore Wali Khad, along with other related works, he added.
Besides, Rs 36.93 crore had been allocated for the construction of a bridge over the Swan river, he said. Funds had also been sanctioned for various maintenance and repair works, including the upkeep of the Kalka-Shimla-Wangtu road passing through the Theog bypass, strengthening of the Dhalli-Theog-Narkanda-Rampur road, repairs at vulnerable locations on the Sainj-Luhri-Aut road and metalling and tarring of various roads and the construction of culverts.
