Constructing roads top priority: Virbhadra

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Sunday said construction of roads in the hill state has been accorded top priority by his government.

"Even far-flung Dodra Kwar (in Shimla district) has road connectivity and remote areas of Kasha Patha would also be connected by road soon," the chief minister told a public meeting in Karsog, about 105 km from here.

The state has over 33,000 km of roads whereas there were only about 300 km road when the state came into existence (in 1971), he said.

A mini secretariat building would be constructed in Karsog of Mandi district for which the chief minister announced a grant of Rs.2 crore.

Virbhadra Singh ruled out carving new districts saying it required huge finances. It was a mere gimmick of the previous government simply to divert the attention of the people from core issues of development, he observed.

He said the sole objective of the present government was to make Himachal Pradesh one of the most developed states in the next four years.