Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has reviewed major infrastructure and development projects in Himachal Pradesh, including National Highway works involving investments of ₹55,103 crore and the ₹15,624-crore Kishau Multipurpose Project. During the review meeting in Bilaspur on October 9, he called for faster project execution, timely utilisation of approved funds and stronger monitoring to prevent delays.
The review covered highway development, rural roads, railway connectivity, healthcare infrastructure, hydropower, water resources and industrial development. Nadda urged the Himachal Pradesh government to expedite pending administrative decisions, resolve implementation bottlenecks and ensure that sanctioned investments translate into tangible public benefits. He also stressed the importance of construction quality, road safety and adherence to project deadlines.
The Kishau Multipurpose Project was a key focus of the meeting after it was declared a National Project in September 2026. An agreement signed on September 15 by Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi has paved the way for advancing the long-pending project on the Tons River along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border.
Estimated at ₹15,624 crore, the project is expected to improve water storage and irrigation capacity while supporting hydropower generation. Once implemented, it is projected to provide irrigation to approximately 97,000 hectares of agricultural land and generate around 1,476 million units of electricity annually. Under the proposed funding arrangement, the Centre will bear approximately 90% of the cost, with the participating states sharing the remaining portion.
National Highway development also featured prominently in the discussions, with projects under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) accounting for investments of ₹55,103 crore in the state. Himachal Pradesh has a National Highway network spanning 2,592 km across 25 highways. Of this, 1,244 km falls under the NHAI, 779 km under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and 569 km under the Border Roads Organisation.
Nadda reviewed four major highway corridors: Kiratpur-Manali, Pathankot-Mandi, Parwanoo-Shimla and Shimla-Mataur. The projects involve reported investments of ₹12,939 crore, ₹10,805 crore, ₹8,950 crore and ₹10,226 crore, respectively. He called for close monitoring of construction progress, improved road safety and timely completion of the works.
Railway connectivity projects were also examined, particularly the ₹13,410-crore Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri railway line. The Bhanupalli-Bilaspur section is targeted for completion by December 2027, while pending land acquisition on the Bilaspur-Beri section requires early action by the state government. Nadda also called for the timely resolution of funding-related issues that could affect implementation schedules.
The review extended to healthcare infrastructure, including critical care facilities and integrated public health laboratories. Delays under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission were highlighted, with only one of nine sanctioned critical care blocks completed and none of the 12 approved integrated public health laboratories ready, according to reports on the review.
Nadda emphasised that regular monitoring, coordination between the Centre and state government, and accountability for project delivery would be essential to advancing infrastructure development across Himachal Pradesh. He called for pending clearances and other implementation issues to be addressed promptly so that approved road, rail, water and healthcare projects can progress within their stipulated timelines.
