HP seeks Centre's help to repair national highways

Himachal Pradesh today asked for Rs 100 crore from the Centre to restore national highways which were damaged due to the recent heavy rains.

In a letter written to the Union Surface Transport Minister Kamal Nath, the state Chief Minister P K Dhumal has said the hill state had experienced prolonged heavy rains causing widespread damage to life and property.

“The incessant rains had triggered huge landslides and washed away vast stretches of road crust along with retaining and breast walls,” the letter said.

Total damage to the road network has been estimated to be more than Rs 1010 crore, out of which damage worth Rs 100 crore has been caused to national highways alone.

Dhumal said roads were the lifeline of people in a hill state. He added that the state government has limited resources and has already initiated restoration works but more funds were needed to restore the national and state highways.