SHIMLA 11 January 2012 : Over 126 roads out of the total 167 major roads closed in the State due to widespread and heavy snowfall have been opened for vehicular traffic. This was disclosed by Thakur Gulab Singh, Public Works Minister here today while presiding over the review meeting with the senior officers of the Public Works Department to take stock of the situation.
Thakur Gulab Singh said that most of the important roads which were affected during 6 to 9th of January by heavy snow were opened for traffic on 9th January itself. He said that Shimla-Solan National Highway, Shimla-Tutu-Namhol, Banikhet-Dalhousie, Paonta Sahib-Shilai-Hatkoti, Shimla-Rampur (via Naldehra-Basantpur), Chamba-Tissa and Chamba-Salooni roads were opened on the same day.
Public Works minister said that Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru, Chirgaon-Tikkri, Rohru-Sungri, Khara Patthar-Patsari, Narkanda-Thanedhar, Katasani-Barot, Janjaihli-Magrugalloo, Kelodhar-Chhattri, Wangtu-Kafnu, Naggar-Manali, Nahan-Dadahu-Haripurdhar road and Karchham-Sangla roads were opened for vehicular traffic yesterday.
Thakur Gulab Singh said that out of total 87 roads blocked due to snowfall in Shimla Zone, 56 roads have been opened. Similarly, in Mandi Zone out of 51 roads blocked due to snowfall, 44 roads have been opened for vehicular traffic. He said that in Kangra Zone 26 major roads were adversely affected due to snow, out of which 23 roads have been cleared. He said that 3 National Highways were affected due to snow and all the three roads were cleared by 9th January.
He said that adequate men and machinery have been deployed to ensure smooth plying of vehicles in the State. He said that 130 JCBs, 97 Dozers and 5 Snow Cutters have deployed throughout the State. He said that apart from the Govt. machinery 63 private JCBs have also been deployed at strategic places. Thakur Gulab Singh said that crusher dust and sand have been kept in slippery and slushy areas for convenient and smooth flow of vehicular traffic.
Public Works Minister directed to take precautionary measures like spreading sand at slippery/ dangerous points for smooth plying of vehicles to avoid any untoward incidents.
Sh. N.L. Sharma Engineer-in-Chief, Sh. D.R. Chaudhary Chief-Engineer (South Zone), Sh. Sonam Negi Chief-Engineer (NH) and other senior officers of the department attended the meeting.
