Contract for state roads project signed

Fourth Contract of the State Roads Project was signed in the presence of Thakur Gulab Singh, Public Works Minister here today. Shri Arun Sharma, Chief Engineer-cum-Project Director signed the agreement on behalf of the Himachal Pradesh Road Infrastructure Development Corporation whereas Shri Li Guangsheng, Director of Long Jian Road & Bridge Limited signed the agreement on behalf of the Company, which is a State owned Company of the Peoples' Republic of China.

Thakur Gulab Singh said that the agreement was signed for constructing 80 kms, two-lane road from Theog to Rohroo in Shimla District and added that the cost of the project would be Rs. 228 crores. He said that the contract envisaged execution of the work in difficult terrain with adverse climatic conditions and involved construction of 15 bridges, 280 culverts, 6.5 kms of retaining walls, 28 kms of breast walls, covered drain with foot path in 5.5 kms length and 30 rain shelters. He said that the project would be completed within a period of 36 months. He said that earlier a contract was signed with the Company for up-gradation of 'Mehatpur-Una Road' in Una district at a cost of Rs. 126 crores.

Public Works Minister expressed hope that the project would be completed within the time frame and would benefit the vegetable and fruit growers of Shimla district. He urged the company to ensure that the existing carriageway of the road should be properly maintained during the construction period so that no inconvenience was caused in the free-flow of traffic.

Shri Li Guangsheng, Director, Long Jian Road & Bridge Limited assured that the project would be completed in time.

Shri Balram Sharma, Secretary, PWD, Shri B.S. Rajpal, Engineer- in-Chief, PWD, Shri Mohan Chauhan, Special Secretary, PWD were also present on the occasion.