The state government has requested the Centre to permit for two new National Highways in the State. Thakur Gulab Singh, the Public Works Minister requested that “Nagrota, Ranital, Dehra, Mubaikpur road” and ” Paonta Sahib, Rajban, Shillai, Hatkoti road” should be declared as national highways for they are strategically important. The planning commission has already sanctioned these two new national highways and pleaded the Central Government to issue necessary notification in this regard.
The minister also pleaded that “Ropar -Nalagarh”, “Jubarhatti -Shimla” and “Ghumarwin-Jogindernagar” state highways should be declared as national highways while emphasizing on border areas road network as a top priority. He further announced that the state government has been planning to set up training institute for undertaking research and development for engineers and technicians in order to improve road constructions quality and requested the Centre to provide liberal central assistance. Demanding amendments in the central road funds, he asked a reduction in state share from present 50 percent to 10 percent for hilly states on the pattern of North East areas while requesting the Centre to abolish toll tax practices adopted on the bridges on by-passes on national highways.
