Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta, inspected the damaged four-lane road from Kitarpur to Manali, emphasising the central government’s commitment to addressing the disaster
in Himachal Pradesh. He assured that the restoration of the four-lane road to Manali will be completed by September 20, underlining the urgency of the situation.
Speaking to the media, Tamta revealed that approximately Rs 201 crore has been promptly allocated to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), along with Rs 63 crore earmarked for state roads. He added that upcoming Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) will include projects worth Rs 657 crore by NHAI, ensuring comprehensive restoration of all roads damaged by heavy rains.
Tamta stressed that there will be no deficiencies in the restoration efforts, with continuous updates on the damage being relayed to the central government through the state government and former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur. He assured that all DPRs will be approved promptly, allowing resumption of work without delay.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation, receiving regular updates on the damage, Tamta said.
Ajay Tamta said the state has 2,600 km of national highways, with 785 km under NHAI, 1,200 km under NH, and 570 km under BRO.
He highlighted the importance of the Kitarpur to Manali four-lane road for tourism and security, as it connects Lahaul-Spiti and Leh via Kullu-Manali. NHAI officials are working tirelessly to assess and restore the damaged roads, he said.
The Kitarpur to Kullu road has already been reopened for traffic, and efforts are underway to ensure the Manali route is fully restored by the September 20 deadline.
Accompanying Tamta during the inspection were former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, various MLAs, NHAI officials, and Mandi district administration officials, who provided detailed information about the extent of the damage.
