Interests of Himachal remain his top priority : Vikramaditya
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh today stated that the interests of Himachal Pradesh remain his top priority and that ensuring balanced and equitable development across all regions of the State has been his consistent political commitment.
He said that rising above party politics, he has made continuous efforts and sustained representations before the Centre to secure development for every region of Himachal Pradesh, with special focus on remote and hilly areas, while firmly protecting the rights and interests of the State.
The Minister informed that through regular follow-ups, persistent representations and proactive engagement with the Union Government, he strongly raised the issue of timely release of funds for road construction in difficult terrains during his meeting with Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan. As a result of these efforts, 294 road projects under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana–IV (PMGSY-IV) covering 1,538.058 kilometres have been approved for Himachal Pradesh at a total cost of Rs. 2,247.24 crore, of which Rs. 2,019.70 crore will be provided by the Ministry of Rural Development. The average cost per kilometre has been fixed at Rs. 146.11 lakh.
He said that among these roads four have been approved for Bilaspur, 65 for Chamba, two for Hamirpur, 12 for Kangra, eight for Kinnaur, 65 for Kullu, two for Lahaul & Spiti, 23 for Mandi, 97 for Shimla, 11 for Sirmaur, three for Solan and two for Una District.
Vikramaditya Singh said that all necessary formalities were completed well in advance, reflecting his belief in advance planning and result-oriented governance. With this approval, PMGSY-IV work will now formally commence in Himachal Pradesh. He added that review meetings with Chief Engineers and senior officers will be held shortly to ensure time-bound and quality execution of the projects.
Expressing concern over reduced rainfall and snowfall, the Minister said climate change is a serious and present challenge and such conditions must be viewed as warning signals for future risks, particularly for water resources and horticulture.
He assured that every rupee received will be spent with transparency, quality and accountability, strictly in the interest of the people of Himachal Pradesh, including road up-gradation, bridge construction and improvement of accident-prone black spots.
The Minister said that this approval reflects his accountability and commitment towards nearly 75 lakh people of Himachal Pradesh. He added that this is only the first phase and that more DPRs will be prepared and sent to the Centre in the coming months. “We will continue our efforts without pause until every region of Himachal Pradesh is connected with a strong and reliable road network,” he asserted.
