Centre approves four-laning of 50-km stretch on Kangra highway
The Government of India has approved one more four-lane highway to be built in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Official sources said that Ministry of Road and Surface Transport has given its approval for the upgradation of the 50-km-stretch between Ranital and Mubarkpur of the highway into four lanes. The process for the appointment of a consultant has also been started by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Likewise, Ministry of Roads and Surface Transport had also given its approval for the up gradation of a 40-km stretch between Amb and Mehatpur into four lane.
The Ranital-Mubarkpur highway will also be connected with the Kangra-Shimla four-lane at Ranital. NHAI had also proposed an additional bridge on Beas river at Dehara Gopipur.
The Ministry of Surface Transport has also released the necessary budget for the appointment of a consultant and preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for both these highways. At present, both the roads are narrow with heavy vehicular traffic. These roads are looked after by the national highway wing of the state Public Works Department (PWD).
It is also learnt that four-lane highway will be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) after the completion of all formalities like acquisition of land, forest and environment clearances and shifting of transmission line and other infrastructure from the existing road.
During the Lok Sabha election, Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur had promised the people of Dehra of converting it into a four-lane road.
The Ranital-Mubarikpur National Highway, links Kangra and Chamba districts with Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur. It was in dire need of widening keeping in view the high volume of traffic and the high number of accidents taking place.
In the tourist season, thousands of vehicles use the highway daily but the zig-zag narrow road causes inconvenience to commuters. The width of the highway is the same as it was 30 years ago.
Pilgrims visiting Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Chamunda and Baglamukhi shrines also use the highway. During the Navratri fair, the highway witnesses traffic jams for hours, causing inconvenience to the public.
