Not to be Published/Broadcast before 21st  July 2008

Himachal Pradesh State Road Project will bring revolution in the road network of the state and Himachal Pradesh will become the first State of the country by 2012 for adopting bioengineering technique to provide stability of hill slopes of the roads.  Environment friendly flowered bushes will be planted under Rs 1365.435 crore H.P. State Road Project.  Under the Project 435 km long state highways and major district roads would be upgraded besides periodic maintenance of 2000 kms. of road length.

World class roads will be provided in the State under the project for which 90 % of loan assistance i.e. 220 million dollars (Rs 990 crores) will be given by Government of India, on grant basis for this ambitious project and under this unique project of its own kind, minimum disturbance to wild life of the area and existing plants or species will be ensured.  World class engineering practices had been adopted in respect of grades, cambers and crust thickness.  Computerized machinery will be used for proper upgradatiion of roads and providing bituminous carpet.

Under this ambitious scheme, 8 roads will be upgraded i.e. 44.82 kms Mehatpur-Una- Amb road; 106.19 kms. Una- Agahar-Barsar-Jahu-Bhambla- Kalkhar road; 80.68 kms Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohru road; 41.95 kms Sarkaghat-Ghumarwin road; 39.17 kms. Ranital-Kotla road; 71.74 kms. Kumarhatti-Sarahan -Nahan road; 24 kms Draman Sihunta roads and 26.80 kms Bhawarana  Lambagaon road

Independent infrastructure Road Development Corporation has been made responsible for getting the review report and making grading and the certification in respect of quality control.  The payments of work done, will be made after certification by the independent supervision consultant appointed by the World Bank authorities. 

Resettlement and rehabilitation policies of the Government have been adopted and procurement and replacement being done through negotiation routes with the affected persons by a committee headed by the respective Deputy Commissioners.  The existing bridges on the final alignment of the road will be upgraded to the double lane standard with footpaths.  The time frame is the main thrust in this project and the completion period ranges between 32 to 36 months for various packages. 

Important part of the project includes periodical maintenance of 2000 kms of roads in next 4 years.  Against this provision, 53 roads have been selected with a length of 1047 kms and till today Rs. 111 crore have already been allotted. Now 400 kms. Periodic renewal has already been completed and balance 647 kms is in progress.  Package for another 453 kms of road is being identified for which there is a sanction of Rs 110 crore.

The State Government is providing high priority to the development and maintenance of roads in the State, as roads are a very vital infrastructure for rapid economic growth of the State.  The development of important sectors of economy such as Agriculture, Horticulture, Industries, Forestry etc. depends upon efficient road network. 

The project will provide a big change in the flow pattern of traffic of these upgraded roads. This will also be a great relief to the road users in the area. After this, up-gradation of other important roads will also be looked into. 

Through road network, education and health will reach in all the parts of the State.  People will become self-employed and the visualization of self sufficient, self reliant and prosperous Himachal will come true.