Kharapather tunnel in Himachal to cost Rs 247 cr

CM says that even though this tunnel may not be particularly beneficial its DPR is under consideration of govt

The estimated cost of the proposed Kharapathar tunnel connecting Jubbal and Kotkhai valleys in the apple belt of Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district will cost around Rs 247 crore to build .

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh told the state assembly here Monday that even though this tunnel may not be particularly beneficial its detailed project report(DPR) is under consideration of the government.

He also informed the house that the Bangana-Ganehti-Bhu Bhu Jot-Holi tunnel feasibility report and DPR is being prepared by Bernard Engineers . An agreement of Rs 6.97 crore has been signed with the Austrian firm .

He further said an administrative approval and expenditure of Rs 145 crore and Rs 367 crore has been given for the construction of the Bangana-Ganehti-Bhu-Bhu Jot tunnel. Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned in the present budget .

In a written reply the state's transport minister G S Bali told the house that Link Ustav Ventures Pvt Ltd of New Delhi has been allotted the work of the high security plates in the state

Bali said there are 68,285 applications still pending and half the work has already been completed by the firm .

In a written reply to another question the chief minister Virbhadra Singh said there are 22 PSUs of the state government of which 12 were loss making .

The 'Janatantra Yatra' arrived in Ludhiana on its second day on Monday amidst tight security.

Hazare said he would call a 'Jan Sansad' in Delhi after five months to chalk out the future strategy of the movement.

"It (Jan Sansad) will have representatives of all sections of the society," he said.

"Several important issues like the Right to Recall elected representatives, the role of the movement in the next Lok Sabha elections are part of his yatra. The basic unit of the Jan Sansad is the village," he added.

Earlier, Hazare visited the Namdhari Shaheedi Samark here where he paid tributes to the Namdhari (a Sikh sect) martyrs. Addressing a meeting, he said "the British have gone but left India in the hands of the corrupt and goondas."