Chhaila-Ochghat road DPR sent to Centre for approval

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh today said that a Detailed Project Report worth Rs 50 crore for the upgradation and expansion of the Chhaila-Ochghat road has been sent to the Centre for approval. The road is mainly used for the transportation of apple from the upper Shimla area to Solan, Parwanoo and outside the state. The finance for upgrading this vital road is being the sought from the Central Road Fund.

“The Department has already sent the DPR of the project to the Centre. I will shortly visit Delhi to meet Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. I will request him to approve the project as it’s one of our main roads for the transportation of apple and it caters to nearly the entire apple belt in the upper Shimla area,” said Vikramaditya Singh.

Apart from the transportation of apple, the road is important from medical and education point of view as well for the residents of upper Shimla and parts of Sirmaur. The road provides direct access to a medical college at Kumarhatti, and a few universities. Besides, the minister said work was on to upgrade and maintain the roads to famous tourists places in upper Shimla like Chanshal, Giri Ganga, etc.

“These places have a huge potential for tourism and the department is making all efforts to have good roads to these places. Also, we have already sent a proposal to the Centre for constructing a tunnel at Khara Pathar, and we are continuously following it up with the Centre. Once constructed, the tunnel will give a massive fillip to tourism in the area,” he said.

Talking about tourism, Singh said a lot of good home stays had come up in upper Shimla and were doing good business. The Minister also reiterated that the outsiders, who had bought land in relaxation of Section 118 and were running home stays, were hurting the interest of local populace. “The idea behind home stay scheme was to provide employment opportunities to the local people,” he said.