The Himachal Pradesh government has hired an Austrian firm, Bernard Engineers, to prepare a Detailed Projet Report (DPR) and feasibility report of Bangana-Dhaneta and Bhubhu Jot tunnels in the state.
Replying to a question on present status of construction of tunnels in the state, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the state government had given an administrative approval for expenditure of Rs 145.46 crore and 367.12 crore for the Bangana-Dhaneta and Bhubhu Jot traffic tunnels respectively.
Singh said that the state government has made a provision of Rs 20 crore for these works from its own budget and Draft Feasibility Reports of these tunnels from the consultant firm have been received and an sum of Rs 1.45 crore had been paid to the firm till date.
The 1,285-metre long Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project will connect Una and Hamirpur districts throughout the year, while Bhubhu Jot will connect Mandi and Kullu districts.
"The 3.2 km long Bhubhu Jot tunnel would reduce the distance by 57 kilometres while the expected length of Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel is 1,285 metres and it would reduce the distance by only 8 kilometres," the Chief Minister informed the house.
As per the survey report, the construction of Khara Pathar tunnel in Shimla, estimated to cost Rs 247 crore, was not expected to benefit the people of this area much.
In reply to a question by Congress legislator Ajay Mahajan, Transport minister G S Bali said that the government was reviewing the policy of issuing taxi and auto permits in the state.
During the last three years total 4,288 tax permits and 277 auto permits were issued and the state earned revenue of Rs 1.47 crore.
Bali said that autos were more prone to fatal accidents in the hilly areas, putting the lives of people in risk and to avoid the accidents, the government has decided not to issue auto permits especially in hilly areas.
Transport minister said that Indian Institute of Information Technology was being set up in Public Private partnership mode in Una district and a team of Central government has recently visited the district for selection of the site for the campus.
Three sites have been shortlisted for the campus and final report is awaited, he said.
Replying to another question Chief Minister said today that the government would give weightage to the scheme accorded priority by the MLAs, under National Agriculture Bank and Rural Department sponsored scheme.
