Survey Complete for Dhali-Rampur Four-Lane Highway, Declares Chief Minister

Shimla: Marking a major milestone in hill state infrastructure, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the comprehensive survey work to upgrade the vital Dhali–Narkanda–Rampur road into a high-speed four-lane highway has been successfully completed.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Narkanda, the Chief Minister emphasized that the multi-crore transit corridor will structurally reshape connectivity across upper Shimla, directly boosting regional tourism and easing trade routes.  

To combat the severe geographical vulnerabilities of the Himalayan terrain, Sukhu revealed that the state will prioritize tunnel construction throughout the highway's execution. Implementing underground bypasses is heavily intended to insulate commuters from hazardous landslide zones, which routinely cripple vehicular movement during intense monsoon and winter cycles. The upgrade is expected to provide ultimate economic relief to local orchardists, who face recurring logistics bottlenecks while transporting heavy apple harvests out of the region annually.  

In addition to the highway announcement, the Chief Minister underscored the state’s broader commitment to accelerating spiritual and cultural tourism through sustainable infrastructure. The administration has formally proposed the construction of the ambitious Hatu Mata Ropeway under the financial framework of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

While the ropeway structure is projected to take three to four years to fully materialize, the Chief Minister confirmed that substantial funds have already been cleared to immediately repair the existing ground route leading to the revered hilltop shrine.  Environmental safeguards will remain paramount, with strict directives issued to engineers to eliminate unnecessary tree felling during construction.

Concluding his visit, Sukhu announced a development grant of ₹50 lakh for the Narkanda Nagar Panchayat, commending the local leadership for their unopposed election and dedication to regional civic progress.