SHIMLA,09.10.26-Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, while addressing a press conference here today, said that the development of the state was the top priority of present state government and several steps have been taken to accelerate development works across the state. He said that these efforts would continue in the future. He said that the government was fully committed to safeguard the interests of the state and would continue to work in the interests of the people. The government will work above party politics to fulfil the needs, aspirations and vision of a developed Himachal Pradesh.

The Public Works Minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-4), the Central Government has already approved road projects worth Rs. 2,300 crore, covering 290 roads with a total length of 1,500 kilometres in Himachal Pradesh. These projects are at various stages of implementation.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was soon expected to receive a major allocation from the central government. The Union Ministry of Rural Development is expected to approve projects worth approximately Rs. 3,000 crore for 340 roads spanning 1,659 kilometres under PMGSY-IV. He added that he had recently held a meeting with state officials regarding these projects and that all formalities related to the approval of these 340 roads had been completed.

He further said that during the tenure of the present state government, approximately Rs. 10,000 crore has been received for projects related to roads, the AMRUT Mission, sanitation, drinking water and other development initiatives. He assured that he would continue to raise issues concerning the acceleration of development in the state with the Central Government and work to safeguard the interests of Himachal.

The Minister said that bridges would be constructed at various locations across the state to ensure uninterrupted road connectivity to remote, inaccessible and other areas of Himachal Pradesh. Projects worth Rs. 128 crore for these bridges are also expected to receive approval from the Central Government soon.

The PWD Minister said that all these development initiatives had been made possible due to the vision, aspirations, trust and collective efforts of the people of the state.

He appealed to residents of areas that remain without road connectivity, particularly remote and inaccessible regions, to cooperate in completing the necessary formalities, including the execution of gift deeds wherever required. He said that such cooperation would help connect all these areas to the road network at the earliest.

Vikramaditya Singh said that road maintenance works worth approximately Rs. 800 crore are currently being carried out across the state under the annual maintenance programme.

He also highlighted the significant decline in the availability of bitumen, used for road surfacing, due to global circumstances. In view of the possibility of delays in road surfacing works across the state, he said that he would soon meet Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas. He would apprise the Union Minister of this serious issue and seek special assistance for Himachal Pradesh, keeping in mind the state's unique geographical conditions.

Reflecting on his recently concluded visit to Brazil, the Public Works Minister said that he had gained valuable insights into various development projects, procedures and work cultures in the country. He said that he had studied innovative approaches and best practices in road construction, maintenance and upgradation as well as urban development, which could also be adopted in the state.