Shimla, June 08: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P K Dhumal said today that construction and maintenance of roads had been given added priority in Mandi district and that Rs 113.63 crore had been earmarked for this purpose during current financial year.

Out of that, Rs 26.64 crore would be spent under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana and Rs 18.66 crore under schemes sponsored by NABARD, he said, addressing a gathering after inaugurating multipurpose town hall constructed at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore in Mandi town. A target of constructing 73 km of roads and 12 bridges had been fixed for the district during current financial year besides metalling of 154 km roads. He said that 73 villages would be provided road connectivity in the district.

Dhumal said that multipurpose town hall constructed at Mandi would go a long way in promoting cultural activities besides facilitating the local people in social activities.

Chief minister said that development in Himachal Pradesh had been speeded up during last four years with a view to achieve self-reliance He said hydel power generation had been given priority and work on projects having generation capacity of over 7500 MW had been started during last four years. He said that some more projects having generating capacity of 450 MW had also been advertised.

Bureau Report