For better upkeep, state seeks control of Khab-Gramphu road
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 8
The inhabitants of tribal areas of Kinnaur and Kaza bordering Tibet can expect better days as the Himachal Government has urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to hand over the strategic 320–km Powari-Khab-Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu road to the state government for expeditious execution of the two-lane project.
Lifelines of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti
- The 67-km Powari to Khab stretch of the National Highway No 5 and 235-km Khab-Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu stretch of the National Highway No 505 is crucial not only from defence point of view but also for development of tribal belt along the China border, which has vast tourism potential
- These NHs are lifelines of the tribal areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti and are of strategic importance for security of the country as they connect Ladakh and areas along international border
The road was taken over by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Himachal Public Works Department in 2015 for maintenance and development. However, despite it being a strategically important road, the BRO has failed to accord it any priority in maintenance or development.
The 67-km Powari to Khab stretch of National Highway No. 5 and 235-km Khab-Sumdo-Kaza – Gramphu stretch of the National Highway No 505 is crucial not only from defence point of view but also for development of tribal belt along China border, which has vast tourism potential.
In separate letters to Union ministers, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that these NHs were lifelines of the tribal areas of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti. These NHs were of strategic importance and crucial for security of the country as they connected Ladakh and areas along international border. The condition of these NHs had deteriorated, causing inconvenience to general public, tourists and other road users, particularly the nullah stretches beyond Losar and Gramphu. The roads need to be maintained properly and required intensive snow clearing operations, especially after winters to keep the roads traffic worthy.
Regional Officer, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) Vipnesh Sharma, confirmed that a letter has been written to the defence ministry for obtaining an NOC. Principal Secretary (Public Works), Himachal Pradesh government, has already written to MORTH in September 2019 for obtaining an NoC to entrust these stretches to the state government for development, construction and regular maintenance.
The funds for double-laning of the road would be provided from tribal sub-plan and connectivity to these tribal areas would improve significantly. Construction of Rohtang tunnel, likely to be completed by summer, would be a milestone in development history of tribal areas.
These tribal areas are the most sought after destinations of trekkers, mountaineers and adventure lovers, especially foreign tourists and construction of highways would give major boost to adventure tourism.
