Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal dedicated the landmark double lane 214 meter long Harsi Pattan bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs. 17.69 crore. PWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur, IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi, Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta, Transport Minister Mahender Singh, Col. Inder Singh MLA and a large number of people were present to mark the ceremony.
During this visit, Chief Minister also inaugurated Tehsil Office and ITI at Sandhol and four roomed block of GSSS Sandhol that is completed at a cost of Rs. 28,31,240 and laid foundation of the additional accommodation for PWD Rest House at Sandhol.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting at Sandhol on the occasion, Chief Minister said that a long pending demand of the area had been fulfilled. He said that it was during his Chief Ministership last time that the Bhoomi Poojan of the bridge was solemnized on October 29, 2002 and an estimate of Rs. 781 lakh got approved from NABARD funding. He criticised the Congress Government for ignoring the most genuine need of the residents of the area by not providing funds for the project from 2003 to 2007 which also resulted in cost escalation of the project from Rs. eight crore to whopping Rs. 18 crore and taking ten years to complete the bridge. He said that it was only when he returned to power on December 30, 2007 and adequate funds were made available and work was taken up on war footing. He said that he was happy to dedicate the bridge to the people of the area and said that now the entire 23 gram panchayats of three districts would be getting all weather connectivity, which included 16 panchayats of Sandhol and surrounding area in Mandi district, four panchayats of Jangal Beri and Kakkar area of Hamirpur district and three panchayats of Jaisinghpur area in district Kangra. He said that henceforth distance between Sandhol and Dharamshala via Sujanpur would be reduced by 20 kms.
