KULLU/SHIMLA: Union Minister for Roads Transport and National Highways,  Nitin Gadkari here today has proposed to dig up the Beas river by 3 to four m and using its boulders to cement  its river bank arms that will withstand even the worst ever disaster in future. The 25 km long stretch between Raison and Manali is worst damaged and NHAI  has built a 5 m road width  to restore the connectivity to Manali, he said.

He made this statement after he along with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, former CM Jai Ram Thakur,  PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh inspected the damage that the recent flash floods and heavy rains had wreaked on the national highways and towns and villages along the rivers in the state from July 7- 11. 

Gadkari also talked about the state government's plan to restrict construction in 100 m zone  of the river relocating the habitation at safer places.    

"We have got the presentation from Switzerland. We have also sought a technical report and flood control plan from state government  to tame the Beas river", he said.  

To study the Beas river, joint team of IIT Roorkee-IIT Mandi led by a renowned scientist is visiting the Beas  river and will submit its report in 15 days time or so. "The state will also submit its technical report to chalk out the plan to tame the river to make living safer along the river", he said. 

"We will go by the state government's move", he added. "After we get  the report and we  will work in tandem with Himachal government on the long term plan. 

The IIT Team will analyze the extent of the damage and submit a comprehensive technical  report to chalk out a long-term plan so that no such damage is caused even in severest of disaster to the highways in Kullu- Manali, Gadkari said. 

"We have spent Rs 800 Crore on the damaged section. Now we will work on the long term plan  and will spend the estimated   Rs 900 Crore amount more once we get the report so that Beas does not harm the highway and habitation, he said.    

The problem is ticklish  as the damaged stretch between the Raison and Manali has weak strata, river below, local  population in between that has made it difficult to realign the highway, he said.  

"The damage done to the roads, bridges, towns and locals is several  times more than what I had thought earlier and what I saw it today here", Gadkari said.

Addressing the media after chairing the meeting at the Taj Baragarh Resort and Spa, where they got a rousing reception from its hotel magnate  Nakul Khullar, Nitin Gadkari stated that the government has allocated  Rs 130 crores under  CRIF fund  for the reconstruction of the National Highway in Himachal and will give Rs 350 Crore for repair.  

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhu expressed gratitude for the support offered by the Union Minister, highlighting the limited resources of the state. Sukhu said the restoring the state after this unprecedented natural calamity, which was worst in 50 years, would be a monumental task.

Over 300 percent more rainfall than usual was recorded in the region during July, resulting in the destruction of bridges, roads, and entire stretches of land, Sukhu said.

Gadkari said they face the challenge of rebuilding infrastructure along the Beas river due to the lack of hard rocks, with most of the highway built on shales  and hollow stones where the concrete structures and walls  were washed away by the strong currents of the serpentine Beas river during the floods.

To mitigate this problem, he proposed constructing strong concrete and Boulder walls along the river, which will help manage debris and lower the river's water level by digging up the river bed by 3 to 4 m down. 

The Union Minister assured that all damaged national highways would be repaired and reinstated, especially those critical for the transportation of apples from villages to markets.

The service and link roads leading from the National Highways will be restored by the NHAI so that the farmers can transport their apples and other fruits to the markets.

But the apple farmers of Shimla district, which produces more than 90 per cent of the apple in Himachal has no fourlane and has a single national highway under NHAI, hence they will not get benefit from what Gadkari has announced for the farmers in Kullu and Mandi.     

Gadkari revealed that  over 68 tunnels worth Rs 12500 Crore  in Himachal Pradesh are currently under construction, with 27 already in operation. Rs 6000 crores have been allocated for the completion of 30 upcoming tunnels in Himachal Pradesh on the highways.

He said the Central government has allocated Rs 250 crores for the Bijli Mahadev Ropeway project that will take pilgrims from Kullu town to Bijli Mahadev.

He said we will sanction Rs 230 Crore and Rs 80 crore immediately as demanded by the state government, he added.  

He said that Rs. 400 crore will be released by the Union Government under Central Road & Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). 

He said that approval has been given to  Rs 53 Crore Shahpur-Sihunta road under CRIF and Rs 49 Crore Rangas-Mehre via Bagchal road in Hamirpur.

The Union Minister assured the people of Himachal Pradesh and those displaced by the floods that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will take the final call on the restoration plans after carefully considering the technical report submitted by the expert committee.

The nation stands united in supporting Himachal Pradesh during this difficult time, and concerted efforts will be made to rebuild the state and ensure the safety and well-being of its people.