Manali, January 20: The much-awaited Manali Winter Carnival began today amid great enthusiasm, but Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s plans to inaugurate the event hit a snag when his helicopter couldn’t land in Manali due to bad weather.
Manali Carnival is a big draw for tourists as it showcases a vibrant cultural of Kullu-Manali and entire Himachal.
Despite the delay, the CM joined the celebrations later and dedicated development projects worth ₹206.08 crore to the people of Kullu-Manali during the National Level Sharad Utsav.
The Chief Minister inaugurated eight projects worth ₹59.21 crore and laid the foundation stone for 13 projects valued at ₹147.59 crore.
These projects aim to rebuild infrastructure damaged by the devastating floods in the Beas River last year and boost the region's development.
Among the inaugurated projects were upgraded roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Phase III, including:
Manali-Burwa Road (₹7.34 crore),
Chhaki to Hallan Road (₹7.70 crore),
Patlikuhal to Hallan-2 Road (₹9.24 crore),
Fozal to Neri Road (₹6.69 crore).
A double-lane bridge at Solang Nala (₹3.71 crore), an inter-state bus station at Patlikuhal (₹7.69 crore), the first phase of the Manali bus parking yard (₹14.30 crore), and a Primary Health Centre at Thatibeer in Banjar tehsil (₹2.53 crore) were also inaugurated.
The CM also laid the foundation for a wellness centre in Manali (₹46.25 crore) and the conservation and restoration of the historic Naggar Castle (₹11.57 crore).
Flood protection works along the Beas River, costing over ₹65 crore, and road and bridge projects to address landslide-prone areas and improve connectivity were also.
