Uttarakhand govt plans to complete 5,827 km road repairs by October

During a review meeting, the Minister of Public Works Department, Tourism, Culture and Irrigation, Satpal Maharaj said that the repair works on all major highways in Uttarakhand would be completed by October 31. Roads totalling 5,827 km, including national highways, have been designated for this purpose. Repair work has been completed on 1,668 km, approximately 28.63% of the total number of roads listed. Maharaj urged the authorities to expedite the work and cited that the state's principal roadways should be cleared of potholes by October 31. There are about 30 to 40 unused bridges in the area, and new permanent bridges have been built nearby. The minister asked the engineers for information on all such empty bridges, claiming that they may be used for refreshments or the establishment of small eateries. The minister further added that he had previously asked the departmental officers to dispose of all compensation owed during the construction of roads and bridges. In this regard, a budget provision of Rs 125 crore was established, of which Rs 35 crore was released and Rs 13.92 crore was distributed. The PWD authorities have been asked to place signboards on approach roads where there is no mobile connectivity. Maharaj mentioned that the road to Sirobagarh is frequently obstructed due to landslides. To ensure the free flow of traffic on the route, a new 3.72 km road and three bridges will be built. The PWD minister also said that experience certificates will not be required in irrigation department tenders up to Rs 50 lakh. The current tender procedure has been changed to ensure that jobless youngsters from around the state can participate in the irrigation department's tender process. Image SourceAlso read: BMC sets up 24 teams to repair potholes