PWD seeks Central funds for widening of Palampur-Hamirpur state highway in Himachal

The Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) has sought funds amounting to Rs 187 crore from the Ministry of Road and Surface Transport (MOT) for the upgradation of the 70-km long Palampur-Hamirpur state highway, one of the most strategic roads in the state, into two lanes. The PWD has already submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the MOT.

Rajesh Chopra, officiating Executive Engineer PWD, Bhawarna Division, told The Tribune here on Saturday that the DPR had been prepared in two parts. After the approval of the DPR by MOT, the project would be executed by the Hamirpur and Palampur circles of the Public Works Department.

He said that the DPR for the road between Palampur and Alampur was prepared by the Palampur circle, while the DPR for the road between Sujanpur and Hamirpur was prepared by the Hamirpur circle. He said after scrutiny, the DPR was forwarded to MOT by the state government for thev allocation of funds under the central government sponsored schemes.

He said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sing Sukhu was taking personal interest in the construction of a two-lane highway between Palampur and Hamirpur as the DPR was prepared on his directions.

He said the major part of the road, over 50 km, falls in the jurisdiction of the Palampur circle of the PWD.

It may be recalled that the Palampur-Hamirpur state highway is one of the busiest roads that links Palampur with Shimla, Chandigarh, Delhi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Una. The road being narrow needs immediate widening, keeping in view the high volume of traffic.

With the opening of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane road, this route has become one of the shortest routes to reach Chandigarh from Palampur, Baijnath, and other smaller towns. The distance between Palampur and Chandigarh has also reduced by 60 km, if one follows the Palampur- Hamirpur, Ghumarwin- Kiratpur route to reach Chandigarh. The travel time has also reduced from six hours to four-and-a half hours.

Despite the fact that there has been a manifold increase in traffic, the width of the highway is the same as it was 30 years ago.

No steps were taken by successive governments either to widen the highway or to get it declared a national highway from the Central Government. In 2017, this state road was declared a national highway by the Government of India; however, the notification was later withdrawn.