Himachal Pradesh Secures Rs. 239.45 Crore CRIF Approval for Major Road Upgradation Projects.
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh has received administrative approval of Rs. 239.45 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) 2026–27 from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, for two key road upgradation projects aimed at strengthening road connectivity and supporting the state’s agriculture and horticulture sectors.
The approval covers the upgradation of the Chhaila–Neripul–Yashwant Nagar–Kumarhatti Road at a cost of Rs. 203.52 crore and the remaining 16-kilometre stretch of the Tikkar–Jarol–Khamadi Road with an allocation of Rs. 35.93 crore.
Welcoming the sanction, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh said the approval was the result of sustained efforts by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and the Public Works Department, which had consistently pursued the projects with the Union Government and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways under the leadership of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The Minister said the State Government had continuously followed up the proposals with the Centre, and the approval reflects the positive outcome of coordinated efforts between the State and the Union Government. He described the sanction as a significant boost to Himachal Pradesh’s infrastructure development agenda.
Highlighting the importance of the projects, Vikramaditya Singh said the approval for the remaining 16-kilometre stretch of the Tikkar–Jarol–Khamadi Road is particularly significant because it completes the entire road corridor, which was partly left out of an earlier package. Once upgraded, the road is expected to improve connectivity for residents and provide major relief to farmers and horticulturists, especially those living in the Rampur Assembly Constituency, by ensuring uninterrupted transportation.
He further stated that the Chhaila–Neripul–Yashwant Nagar–Kumarhatti Road serves as a vital transport corridor for the apple-growing regions of Theog, Kotkhai, Jubbal, Rohru, and Chopal. The road upgradation is expected to improve connectivity, enable faster and safer transportation of apples and other horticultural produce, reduce logistics and transportation costs, and strengthen the rural economy.
Describing the projects as investments in the livelihoods of farmers rather than merely road infrastructure, the Minister said improved roads would enhance market access, minimise post-harvest losses, and contribute significantly to the long-term growth of Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture sector.
Vikramaditya Singh also assured that the State Government would expedite all necessary procedural formalities to ensure construction work begins at the earliest and is completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to development, he said Himachal Pradesh would continue to work constructively with the Government of India, rising above partisan politics, to secure every possible developmental benefit for the people of the state. He added that public welfare and infrastructure development would remain the government’s highest priorities.
The administrative approval under the CRIF scheme is expected to provide a major boost to road infrastructure in the hill state, improving connectivity in remote and horticulture-dominated regions while supporting economic growth and enhancing transportation facilities for local communities.
