Himachal Pradesh Speaker seeks National Highway status for strategic road

Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has formally requested Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to grant National Highway status to a strategic road corridor. The proposed route connects Draman, Sinhuta, Chuwari, Chamba, Tissa, and Pangi.

Pathania emphasized the corridor's importance for national security, noting its role in facilitating the movement of troops and military equipment from the Indian Army’s divisional headquarters at Yol Cantonment toward sensitive border areas. He also highlighted the road's potential to boost regional connectivity and tourism.

In addition to the highway designation, Pathania requested the construction of a tunnel between Chuwari and Chamba. While the Chamba–Tissa–Bairagarh–Sach section is currently under consideration for development by the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF), Pathania urged the central government to expand the proposal to include the entire Draman–Sinhuta–Chuwari–Chamba section via Jot.