Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi to address critical transport challenges facing Himachal Pradesh. The high-level meeting yielded several key breakthroughs designed to support local transport operators, boost tourism, and optimize regional highway connectivity.
A major highlight of the discussions was securing crucial relief for Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector. Accepting the state’s request, Union Minister Gadkari agreed to raise the permissible operating age for Contract Carriage tourist vehicles from 12 to 15 years, bringing them in line with All India Tourist Permit (AITP) norms. Directives were issued to draft the necessary notification, easing financial burdens on local taxi operators while maintaining safety standards.
Navigating the state’s rugged topography, Agnihotri also highlighted the scarcity of Automated Testing Stations (ATS), as only two centres currently operate statewide. To prevent severe disruptions for vehicle owners, he urged the central government to permit manual fitness testing to run concurrently until adequate ATS infrastructure is established across the state. Minister Gadkari gave a positive assurance, requesting an immediate status report on ongoing ATS construction projects to process the temporary exemption.
The dialogue further yielded crucial mobility improvements for commuters and trade routes. Both leaders agreed to raise the maximum speed limit on the Kiratpur–Bilaspur–Mandi corridor from 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Additionally, following Agnihotri’s appeal, instructions were issued to link the Amritsar–Hoshiarpur National Highway to the central National Highway network stretching from Pandoga on the Punjab–Himachal border to Jhalera in Una. Agnihotri expressed gratitude to the Union Minister for his prompt, favorable action toward modernizing the state’s transport ecosystem.
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