Road Uphill

Himachal8217;s progress is tangible but the state realises it needs to build the arteries to get there.

Till about a decade and a half ago, travelling on Himachal8217;s mountainous roads was an ordeal. Roads, as in motorable roads, were limited to a few developed areas. But now, with tourism and industry growing, Himachal has no other way to go but build its road network.

Beginning from barely 300 kilometres of road in 1947, the state, with a population of more than 63 lakh, has gone up to 27,000 km of roads, including the national highways. The biggest project is set to begin this year, with the state government negotiating with the World Bank. At stake 8211; Rs 1,100 crore.

Even in the past year, more than Rs 300 crore has gone into the construction of roads to connect some of the less developed areas. The state is expected to pump in another Rs 200 crore to boost that network.

What has come as a boon to the hill state is the central funding 8211; the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana PMGSY for building rural roads. All those areas now connected by the new roads in the districts like Solan, Sirmaur, Bilaspur and Mandi are witnessing a spurt in economic activity 8211; growing off-seasonal vegetables, flowers, fruits and dairy farming.

8220;This year8217;s projection was at Rs 1,000 crore under the PMGSY, which was a record of sorts and we are just half-way through,8221; says SP Negi, engineer-in-chief, Public Works.

8220;Our experience in the hills is that everything follows the road. Whether it is literacy Himachal is the second most literate state after Kerala, economic boom, industrialisation or growth of the social sectors, roads are vital for us,8221; says DK Sharma, the state8217;s advisor planning. Being a special category state, Himachal will get more Central funds, besides the World Bank grant.

The state, however, is careful this time around to concentrate on district roads. Already, it has identified 4,000 kilometres of district roads which will be built with the World Bank8217;s help. Of this, 630 km will be in Mandi district, followed by 585 km in Kangra. Sirmaur will get another 450 kilometres while the backward district of Chamba where a large number of hydel projects and a mega cement plant is coming up, will get 435 km of new road across tough terrain.

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Shimla8217;s apple-growing belt 8211; Theog, Kotkhai and Hatkoti 8211; will also get new roads. As many as eight project have been put on the priority list for funding.

The task of building new roads in these areas, however is not easy. The cost of construction of roads in the hills is two to three timers higher than the plains, amounting to around Rs 2.5 crore per kilometre. Retired chief engineer Public Works SK Sharda recalls the time when machinery was even airlifted to Killar 8211; a tribal belt 8211; for construction of roads.