Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday directed the officers of Public Works Department and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure pothole free highways in the State to facilitate the commuters.

The Chief Minister while presiding over a meeting held here with senior officers of PWD and NHAI said that all the four laning projects should be completed within the time period to avoid cost escalation besides providing better connectivity in the State.

Stressing on the completion of projects by the deadline, he said that Parwanoo-Solan four laning project must be completed by March 31 next year whereas Kiratpur-Nerchowk four lane road should be completed by May 31 next year and Takoli-Kullu by September 31 next year.

 He said that the target should also be fixed to complete Solan-Kaithalighat stretch of Kalka-Shimla four lane project by end of next year.

The Chief Minister said the national highway between Boileauganj- Bhrampukhar-Ghaghas must be made pothole free by November 15.   He directed the officers to take up patchwork on Nerchowk to Kullu at the earliest keeping in view the winter season.  The upgradation work on Jogindernagar-Pathankot road, Baddi-Nalagarh and Pinjore Nalagarh should be expedited and completed within the stipulated period. 

Thakur said the matter regarding Kaithlighat-Dhalli four laning project should be resolved at the earliest.

 As many as 17 structures need to be removed from this stretch besides a few electric towers. He also directed the PWD officers to identify suitable dumping sites on Solan-Kaithalighat stretch to facilitate the executing agencies.

 He also asked the concerned authorities to shift 13 electric towers along this stretch.

The Chief Minister further said that all the clearances related to forest should be expedited to ensure that work on these projects does not suffer.

He also stressed the need for plantation of saplings alongside the road to make these four lanes ‘Green Highways’.

Expressing concern over the delay in construction of bridge over Beas river at Manali which was causing inconvenience to tourists as well as local people, he asked the authorities concerned to speed up the work.

During the meeting, Regional Officer of NHAI, Gursewak Singh Sangha assured the Chief Minister regarding time bound completion of all four lane projects under implementation in the State.