Himachal Pradesh Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh has said that the Central Government has approved an annual plan worth ₹3,667 crore for the state for the financial year 2024–25. The funds will be used for construction, widening, and upgrading of roads, bridges, crash barriers, and other infrastructure across various districts.
Vikramaditya shared that, following the directions of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, he recently met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to discuss key issues concerning Himachal Pradesh.
He highlighted that the state currently has around 1,200 km of roads under the national highway network and urged the Centre to step up its support for their maintenance and improvement.
Looking back at last year, he noted that while the state had proposed an annual plan of ₹2,600 crore for 2023–24, it received only ₹269 crore, which fell far short of what was needed. However, for the financial year 2024–25, the state submitted a more comprehensive plan of ₹3,667 crore, which has now been approved by the Centre this June—a much-needed boost for infrastructure development.
Vikramaditya shared that he had also brought up the long-pending demand for a tunnel under Jalori Jot in Kullu district, along National Highway-305. He said the Central Government has given in-principle approval and sanctioned ₹1,452 crore for the project. Once built, the tunnel is expected to significantly boost tourism in the region and improve connectivity for lakhs of local residents.
He also spoke about the recurring landslides near Brauni Nala on National Highway-5, which have caused severe damage to the road. To tackle this issue, the Centre has approved ₹135 crore for building a bridge at the site.
In addition, the Central Government has cleared ₹1,385 crore for the four-laning of the Kala Amb–Paonta Sahib–Dehradun road, which will include land acquisition and pre-construction work. These projects, he said, are vital for improving road safety and regional connectivity. Singh expressed gratitude to Minister Gadkari and the Central Government for approving significant funds for Himachal.
During his visit to Delhi, Singh also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and raised the issue of the proposed Bhubu Jot tunnel and the road connecting Mandi and Kullu districts. He urged that the route be declared a strategically important defence corridor, which would significantly reduce the distance between Pathankot and Kullu by 40–50 km, aiding both tourism and military logistics.
The Minister said the state is hopeful for a positive response on this proposal and emphasised the need for continued collaboration between the Centre and the state for the overall progress of Himachal Pradesh.
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