Urged Union Minister to extend validity of All India Taxi Permits from existing 12 years to 15 years
TNR News network
Dharamshala: Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at his residence in New Delhi and raised a host of pressing infrastructure and transport issues pertaining to the hill state.
During the meeting, Agnihotri expressed gratitude to Gadkari for his continued support to Himachal and highlighted the state’s acute dependence on road and bridge infrastructure due to its challenging topography. “Improving road connectivity is critical for enhancing the quality of life and economic opportunities for the people of Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
Raising issues concerning the Transport Department, Agnihotri urged the Union Minister to consider extending the validity of All India Taxi Permits from the existing 12 years to 15 years. He argued that this move was justified since the overall life span of vehicles has already been fixed at 15 years.
Gadkari responded positively to the request, agreeing to examine the proposal sympathetically and directed the concerned authorities to initiate the necessary process.
Agnihotri also requested the immediate release of pending funds amounting to Rs 7.63 crore under the “Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment”, specifically the component that incentivises scrapping of old vehicles. Gadkari directed his ministry to expedite the disbursement without delay.
The Deputy Chief Minister sought the declaration of the Nangal-Jaijon road as a National Highway, citing its strategic importance in serving the upcoming Bulk Drug Park. He informed Gadkari that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 429 crore had already been prepared and would be submitted under the Centre’s ambitious Gati Shakti scheme. The Union Minister instructed his team to consider the proposal under the said framework.
Agnihotri also requested an extension of the proposed four-laning of NH 503A, currently planned from Amritsar to Hoshiarpur, further up to Jhaleda via Bankhandi, a 15-km stretch that would significantly enhance access to important religious destinations like Shri Anandpur Sahib and Mata Chintpurni. Gadkari assured that the proposal would be examined.
On the long-pending issue of improving road connectivity between Chandigarh and the Baddi industrial belt, Gadkari informed that the matter was under active consideration by the Centre.
Additionally, Agnihotri sought urgent approval for the upgradation of the link road from Jaijon Modh to Tahliwal Chowk via Bhai Ka Modh, including three bridges, under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) at an estimated cost of Rs 48.69 crore. The Union Minister gave a categorical assurance that the proposal would be approved on priority.
