New Delhi: Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur has asked the Union Government to invite global tenders for starting the maintenance work of Manali-Leh road.
Thakur raised this demand with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari during a meeting with him today in New Delhi. He apprised that Manali-Leh road was very significant from strategic point of view for the country and ration and other material was being supplied to Kargil and other important places through this route.
Minister also urged the Union Minister to direct the concerned Company engaged in construction of new road from Kiratpur for maintenance of the existing Kiratpur-Manali road as commuters were facing inconvenience due to bad road conditions.
He demanded construction of tunnel at Bhubhu Jot on Kiratpur-Manali road which would reduce the distance from Pathankot to Kullu and Manali by 70 kilometers. He also urged to declare this portion as a part of National Highway and complete this work on priority. He informed that the work on detailed project report of this three kilometers long tunnel had already been started and Rs. 85 crores would be spent on its constructed.
Kaul Singh Thakur demanded Rs. 45 crores from Central Road Fund for maintenance of Mandi-Kamand-Katola-Bajora road which connects the prestigious institute of IIT Mandi.
Gadkari directed the concerned officers to provide priority for maintenance of various roads in Himachal Pradesh and also assured that he himself would visit the State to take stock of the road conditions.
