New Road Construction to Enhance Connectivity in Chamba District
Foundation Laid for New Road in Bhatiyat
Subhash Mahajan
Chamba
A new road spanning 3.7 kilometers will be built to link Jajdi with Bhatuhi, with an investment of ₹86 lakh. This announcement was made by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania during the foundation stone laying ceremony in Gram Panchayat Malunda, located in the Bhatiyat constituency.
Pathania underscored the importance of enhancing road access to remote villages, asserting that all development initiatives should be completed on schedule. He expressed his congratulations to the local residents, emphasizing that roads are essential for comprehensive development and that the government is committed to improving connectivity for every village.
The new infrastructure will significantly aid the inhabitants of Chalela Dhanodi, Kut, Kutla Jukani, Bhatuhi, Badei, Bhadrada, and surrounding areas, facilitating easier daily commutes. Plans for future expansion include extending the road to Sela and Maithla villages.
Pathania also noted that the Public Works Department is currently executing projects valued at ₹146 crore in Bhatiyat, which includes the construction of seven roads costing ₹30 crore to connect villages in Malunda, Turkda, Kudnu, Vanet, and Gahar panchayats. Approximately 80 kilometers of roads have already been completed, and 12 new link roads covering 70 kilometers have been sanctioned under PMGSY Phase-4, with a budget allocation of ₹115.73 crore.
Moreover, the Jal Shakti Department is advancing 46 projects worth ₹365 crore in Bhatiyat, with ₹54 crore allocated for areas including Chuwari, Malunda, Jatrun, Kudnu, Gahar, Banet, Awan, and Parchod.
Pathania announced that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is scheduled to visit Chamba district soon to inaugurate development projects totaling ₹400 crore and to unveil new initiatives worth ₹250 crore. He reiterated the state government's commitment to ensuring essential services reach remote regions.
The ceremony was attended by various senior officials and dignitaries, including Krishna Chandra (State Forest Corporation), Ajay Kumar (Wool Federation), Surender Chadak (ST Cell), SDM Manish Soni, SE Mahendra Dhiman, DFO Rajnish Mahajan, BDO Anil Gurada, Tehsildar Jai Singh, EE Narendra Chaudhary, Rakesh Thakur, and Pankaj Rathore.