Dhumal proposes six lane expressway between Parwanoo and Shimla

Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, proposed to the National Highway Authority of India preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of six-lane express way between Parwanoo and Shimla keeping in mind the future requirements. He was addressing the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and State Government Officers in a review meeting convened to take stock of the progress of the proposed express way construction to connect Shimla with Parwanoo here today.

Chief Minister said that the state government was keen to start the construction work of the express way on priority and necessary modalities worked out by the executing agencies well in time. He said that initially the 40.78KMs. long stretch between Parwanoo and Solan was being taken up for widening as four laned road and in the second phase the next portion between Solan and Shimla would be constructed. He said that the NHAI had proposed to construct the entire length of road as four-lane road while the state government wanted the authorities to complete modalities at the same time for the construction of six lane road. He said that the traffic pressure was mounting with every passing year and need had surfaced to think of coming atleast fifty years requirement. He said that the four lane express way project between Parwanoo and Solan was likely to cost Rs. 440.56 crore.

Prof. Dhumal said that roads were the vital and main connectivity modes in the state and moreover the Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge railway line had been propose to be declared as World Heritage by the UNESCO and there cannot be any change in the present status of the same thereby the entire pressure would be on the road. He said that the vehicle movement per day between both the ends had been estimated at about 23 thousand and was likely to reach 66,541 by the year 2030 so such statistics were required to be kept in mind while preparing the DPRs for the proposed express way. He said that planning and designing was required to be in consonance with the future demand of the area and required preparations made well in time to envision the additional land acquisition for the six lane express way. He said that the roads were the sole mode of carriage of man and material and with the increase in population traffic frequency would increase proportionately. He said that it had long back been decided to connect Shimla town with express way and no more time would be wasted in starting the project and complete the same in a targeted form to ease the traffic congestion resulting into increased frequency of the road accidents.
Chief Minister said that with the construction of the express way distance between Shimla and Chandigarh would be covered within a short time of two hours saving time and fuel of the commuters. He said that flyovers and tunnels would be bored to reduce the distance wherever necessary. He emphasized the need to take road safety measures included in the DPR by constructing crash barriers-concrete/metallic crash barriers along the entire road length keeping space for median openings wherever required. He said that on the express way safety signs, road information and road paintings would be required to be provided for the convenience of the commuters while best efforts made to protect the flora and fauna of the state to protect the environment. He said that the private land owners would be required to be paid land compensation as per the National Highway Act besides proper rehabilitation package to the families which surrender their entire land holdings for the project. He said that environment was prime concern and necessary provisions made in the project report to protect the same. He said that the project would be required to be executed in a time bound manner to benefit the users.

Shri Gulab Singh Thakur, Public Works Minister, said that spade work had been carried in an efficient way to pave the way for starting the project since rounds of preparatory meetings were held between NHAI and PWD officers. He said that quality had to be maintained in the construction work so that it could last longer.
Dr. Rajeev Bindal, Health Minster, sought details of the habitations falling between Parwanoo and Shimla and urged authorities not to disturb the same in the process.

Shri Ravi Dhingra, Chief Secretary said that the state had initially proposed the construction of six lane express way which was the need of the state keeping in view future growth requirements.
Shri Balram Sharma, Secretary PWD, detailed the preparations made by the department to get the project executed.

Shri P.K.Dass, General Manager, NHAI gave the presentation about the express way project and assured that necessary steps would be taken to make preparations for six lane road while initially constructing four lane road.

Shri Hari Narayan Singh Saini, Smt. Vinod Chandel, Shri Gobind Sharma and Dr. Rajeev Saijal, MLAs from Solan district, Shri Bhim Sen, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shri Ashwani Kumar, DGP, Shri Mohan Chauhan, Special Secretary PWD, Shri B.S.Rajpal, Engineer-in-Chief, HPPWD, Col. K.P.Sharma, Project Director, NHAI, Shri Faquir Chand, Consultant, NHAI and other senior officers were present in the meeting.