Mumbai, Oct. 30 -- Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Monday and sought National Highway status for a strategic road corridor connecting Dharamshala, Chamba and Pangi. He also requested approval for a tunnel between Chuwari and Chamba.

Pathania submitted a written representation seeking early approval for the Shahpur or Draman-Singhuta-Chuwari-Chamba-Jot-Tissa-Sach-Pangi corridor. He cited its importance for national security, regional connectivity and tourism, particularly because it would support the Indian Army's divisional headquarters at Yol Cantonment in Dharamshala.

The Speaker said the corridor could facilitate the movement of troops and military equipment to border areas during a potential security emergency involving Pakistan or China. He urged the Centre to include the Draman-Singhuta-Chuwari-Chamba stretch via Jot in the proposed National Highway network, saying that developing only the Chamba-Tissa-Bairagarh-Sach section would not fulfil the wider strategic objective.

The Chamba-Tissa-Bairagarh-Sach section is under consideration for construction through the General Reserve Engineer Force. Pathania informed Gadkari that the Shahpur or Draman-Singhuta-Chuwari-Chamba road via Jot had already been widened under the World Bank and Central Infrastructure Fund and had become nearly a double-lane road.

Gadkari said the Central Government was in the final stages of deliberations on a policy for declaring new National Highways. He indicated that the proposal would be considered once the new guidelines and criteria were finalised, while acknowledging the road's strategic significance for Chamba district and the country.

Pathania said the corridor would improve links between Gaggal Airport, Shahpur, Chamba and Pangi, reduce travel times and improve access for military personnel, tourists and residents. The proposed road is expected to strengthen connectivity to Pangi, a remote tribal area, while supporting tourism and strategic mobility.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.