Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone of upgradation of 9.30 kms Kulaani-Chandpur-Bharmat-Simblu road to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.28 crore at Bharmat in Palampur Sub Division of Kangra district yesterday. Chief Minister directed the officers to complete this project within 18 months. He said that roads are the lifelines for the people of Himachal Pradesh as there was limited scope of other transportation means due to hilly State. Therefore, the State Government has accorded priority for construction of roads in the State, he added.
Interacting with media persons in Palampur, he said that the expansion of Gaggal Airport would benefit the people of the region and would generate employment opportunities in the coming times. He said that this would also go a long way in facilitating the tourists. He said that the previous government had not made sincere efforts to promote tourism in Kangra, but the present State Government has been laying a special focus to promote tourism in the district. The government is planning to make Kangra district the ‘Tourism Capital’ of the State and a blueprint for the same is being prepared, to create basic amenities and other relevant infrastructure to the tourists so that more and more tourists are attracted to this area.
Chief Minister said that the State Government would ensure balanced and uniform development of the State for which he sought cooperation of the people. He said that he had a deep connection with Kangra district and efforts would also be made to make District Kangra a hub of the IT sector.
In response to a question regarding de-notification of institutions Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government would open institutions on a need basis. He said that the previous BJP government had opened and upgraded more than 900 institutions in the last six months of its tenure keeping in mind the electoral gains, which put an additional financial burden of Rs. 5000 crore on the state exchequer, besides he has inherited a loan of Rs. 75 thousand crore, he added.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also visited the Tulip Garden at CISR-IHBT Palampur and evinced keen interest in it.
Earlier, the Chief Minister received a rousing welcome on reaching Palampur.
On the occasion Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Kishori Lal and Ashish Butail, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Sunil Sharma, Principal Advisor (IT & Innovation) Gokul Butail, Mayor Municipal Corporation Palampur Poonam Bali, Chairman of Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Sanjay Singh Chauhan, Congress leader Jagdish Sepahia, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Nipun Jindal and other dignitaries were present amongst others.