Union Minister calls for faster execution of road, rail, healthcare and industrial projects; stresses timely utilisation of Central funds and greater accountability

 JP Nadda Reviews ₹55,103 Crore Highway Projects in Himachal Pradesh; ₹15,624 Crore Kishau Project Gets Fresh Push

Kishau Multipurpose Project gains momentum following National Project status and landmark agreement among six states

Four major highway corridors reviewed as Himachal's 25 National Highways span 2,592 km

Centre-backed investments aim to strengthen connectivity, healthcare, irrigation and industrial development across the hill state

State Government urged to expedite pending clearances, resolve land acquisition and funding issues, and ensure timely completion of approved projects

October 9, 2026: Union Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday reviewed major infrastructure and development projects in Himachal Pradesh, including National Highway projects involving investments of ₹55,103 crore and the ₹15,624 crore Kishau Multipurpose Project, which has gained fresh momentum following its declaration as a National Project.

The comprehensive review covered national highways, rural roads, railway connectivity, healthcare infrastructure, hydropower, water resources and industrial development, with a focus on accelerating execution, resolving pending issues and ensuring that sanctioned funds translate into tangible benefits for the people.

Shri Nadda said the Union Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, remained committed to strengthening connectivity, expanding modern healthcare services and creating economic opportunities in the hill state through sustained investment and support.

He emphasised that the State Government must ensure effective utilisation of approved funds, timely administrative decisions and regular monitoring to prevent delays in projects of public importance.

Highlighting the importance of infrastructure in a mountainous state, Shri Nadda said road and rail connectivity were critical not only for mobility but also for enabling patients to reach hospitals, helping farmers and horticulturists access markets, promoting tourism and employment, and facilitating relief operations during natural disasters. He stressed that safety, construction quality and adherence to timelines must remain key priorities.

Kishau Project Gains Momentum After Six-State Agreement

The ₹15,624 crore Kishau Multipurpose Project emerged as a key focus of the review following its declaration as a National Project in September 2026.

An agreement signed on September 15 among Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi has paved the way for taking forward the long-pending project.

Located on the Tons River along the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border, the project is expected to boost water storage, irrigation and hydropower generation.

Under the National Project funding arrangement, the Centre will bear approximately 90 per cent of the financial burden, while the remaining 10 per cent will be shared by the participating states.

Once implemented, the project is expected to provide irrigation facilities to around 97,000 hectares of land and generate an estimated 1,476 million units of clean hydropower.

The review also took stock of other major water resources and energy projects, including the approximately ₹7,000 crore Renukaji Dam Project and the ₹1,800 crore Luhri Stage-I Hydropower Project.

₹55,103 Crore Highway Investments; Four Major Corridors Under Review

National Highway development featured prominently in the discussions, with NHAI projects in Himachal Pradesh accounting for investments totalling ₹55,103 crore.

The state has a 2,592-km National Highway network comprising 25 highways. Of this, 1,244 km falls under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), 779 km under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and 569 km under the Border Roads Organisation.

Shri Nadda reviewed progress on four key corridors — Kiratpur–Manali, Pathankot–Mandi, Parwanoo–Shimla and Shimla–Mataur — and stressed the need to maintain construction quality, improve safety and meet stipulated deadlines.

Several major stretches of the approximately ₹12,939 crore Kiratpur–Manali project have been completed, while the Pandoh–Takoli section is targeted for completion by March 2027.

The corridor includes 31 tunnels spanning a combined length of approximately 44 km and is expected to improve connectivity to Mandi, Kullu and Manali, besides facilitating safer travel and supporting tourism.

On the approximately ₹8,950 crore Parwanoo–Solan–Shimla Bypass project, the Parwanoo–Solan section has been completed. The Solan–Kaithlighat section is expected to be completed by September 2027, while the Shimla Bypass is scheduled for completion by September 2028.

Works worth approximately ₹10,805 crore on the Pathankot–Mandi project are targeted for completion by 2028–29, while proposed works valued at ₹10,226 crore on the Shimla–Mataur corridor are expected to be completed by 2029–30. Work on the Pinjore–Baddi–Nalagarh project is also underway.

The review flagged the need for early decisions on dredging and desilting permissions along highway stretches near the Beas River to ensure road safety and the permanent restoration of sections damaged by floods and landslides.

Officials also informed the meeting that bids had been invited for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Bhubhu Jot Tunnel.

Shri Nadda called for stronger Centre–State coordination to address outstanding issues and ensure safe, timely execution of road projects.

Rural Roads: 23,601 Km Completed Under PMGSY

The Union Minister also reviewed rural connectivity under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), under which 26,506 km of roads covering 4,170 projects have been sanctioned in Himachal Pradesh at an estimated cost of ₹13,697 crore.

Of the sanctioned road length, 23,601 km has been completed, providing road connectivity to approximately 90 per cent of eligible habitations.

Shri Nadda called for completion of the remaining nine roads under PMGSY Phase I by March 2027 and early award of contracts for 25 works sanctioned under PMGSY-IV.

He emphasised stronger quality monitoring and timely completion of rural road projects, particularly in remote areas where connectivity remains essential for access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities.

Railway Projects: Land Acquisition and Pending State Share Need Urgent Attention

Railway connectivity projects also came under review, with Shri Nadda calling for prompt resolution of land acquisition and funding-related issues that could affect project timelines.

The approximately ₹13,410 crore Bhanupalli–Bilaspur–Beri railway project remains a major priority, with the Bhanupalli–Bilaspur section targeted for completion by December 2027.

The review identified pending land acquisition issues on the Bilaspur–Beri section that require expeditious action at the state level.

The Chandigarh–Baddi railway line, estimated to cost ₹1,540 crore, is also targeted for completion by December 2027.

Of the estimated project cost, approximately ₹1,160 crore has already been spent. However, nearly ₹231 crore of the State Government's outstanding share is yet to be transferred.

Shri Nadda stressed the need for early release of the pending amount, noting that rail connectivity to industrial centres such as Baddi is vital for freight movement, investment and employment generation.

Major Healthcare Investments to Strengthen Specialist Services

Healthcare infrastructure formed another major part of the review, with Shri Nadda reiterating the Centre's commitment to expanding access to quality and specialised medical services, particularly in remote and difficult-to-reach areas of Himachal Pradesh.

The major investments and financial provisions reviewed included over ₹1,400 crore for AIIMS Bilaspur, approximately ₹547 crore for medical colleges in Chamba, Nahan and Hamirpur, ₹495 crore for the PGI Satellite Centre in Una and approximately ₹200 crore for the Super Speciality Block at IGMC Shimla.

These initiatives are aimed at strengthening advanced treatment facilities within the state and reducing the need for patients to travel to other cities for specialised healthcare.

The review also covered the approximately ₹1,422 crore healthcare project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), approved in June 2025.

Under the funding arrangement, 90 per cent of the project cost is to be provided as a Central grant.

The project envisages strengthening medical colleges in Hamirpur, Nahan, Nerchowk, Tanda, Chamba and IGMC Shimla, alongside the development of advanced MRI services, cancer treatment facilities and other modern medical infrastructure.

Nadda Calls for Faster Completion of Critical Healthcare Facilities

Expressing the need to accelerate implementation of approved healthcare projects, Shri Nadda emphasised that sanctioned funds must translate into functional facilities and improved patient services.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), approximately ₹360 crore was sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26.

The review noted that only one of the nine sanctioned Critical Care Blocks had been completed. None of the 12 approved Integrated Public Health Laboratories had been completed, while 29 of the 73 Block Public Health Units had been constructed.

Shri Nadda called for faster execution of the pending works and timely operationalisation of the facilities.

The review also noted that approximately ₹390 crore had been spent out of ₹521 crore sanctioned for the health sector under the 15th Finance Commission.

Emphasising the need to link expenditure with outcomes, the Minister said the real measure of public investment lay in improved access to diagnostic services in rural areas, emergency care and specialist treatment at the district level.

He called for regular monitoring of construction, expenditure and operational readiness to ensure that approved resources deliver the intended benefits to patients.

Industrial Projects: Focus on Investment, Manufacturing and Jobs

Progress on industrial infrastructure projects was also reviewed, including the Bulk Drug Park in Una, for which Central grant assistance of ₹1,000 crore has been provided for.

Of this, ₹225 crore has been released, while approximately ₹117 crore has been utilised.

The review also took note of the proposed Medical Device Park, which had an estimated outlay of approximately ₹100 crore. The State Government withdrew the proposal in October 2024 and returned an instalment of ₹30 crore.

Shri Nadda underscored the importance of timely implementation and effective utilisation of industrial development opportunities to attract investment, strengthen manufacturing and generate employment for the state's youth.

Progress on other educational and urban infrastructure projects was also examined.

Central Assistance for Capital Investment and Disaster Recovery Reviewed

The meeting also reviewed Central support for capital investment, post-disaster restoration and reconstruction in Himachal Pradesh.

The discussions covered provisions of ₹2,381 crore under Special Assistance for Capital Investment during 2024–25, ₹2,006 crore for post-disaster restoration and ₹2,150 crore for an externally aided reconstruction project.

Shri Nadda called for coordinated action and transparent utilisation of sanctioned resources to ensure effective restoration, reconstruction and long-term infrastructure development.

Priority Must Be Timely Completion and Delivery of Public Benefits: Nadda

Concluding the review, Shri Nadda reiterated that the Union Government, under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's leadership, continued to extend the necessary support for Himachal Pradesh's overall development.

He stressed that the priority now must shift towards completing sanctioned projects within their stipulated timelines and ensuring that investments yield visible benefits for the people.

The Minister urged the State Government to expedite decisions on pending road and railway works, healthcare institutions and other infrastructure projects, while strengthening monitoring, maintaining quality standards and ensuring transparent utilisation of approved funds.

He emphasised that timely implementation, effective coordination and accountability would be crucial to translating Central assistance into better connectivity, stronger healthcare services, increased economic opportunities and lasting development across Himachal Pradesh.