**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 707, addressed on July 24, 2025, regarding the Baijnath-Bharmour (Utrala-Holi) road project. The Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, clarified that the Baijnath-Bharmour (Utrala-Holi) road is not a National Highway. The Ministry is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways. The government receives proposals from State Governments and Union Territories for declaration/upgradation of State roads as new National Highways. Decisions regarding the notification of State Roads as National Highways are based on principles of connectivity, inter se priority, and synergy with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP). As of the date of the response, the Baijnath-Bharmour (Utrala-Holi) road project has not been declared a national project, and no funds have been allocated for its first phase under the purview of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways.
BaijnathBharmour road project: A road project in Himachal Pradesh, specifically the UtralaHoli road, which is the subject of a parliamentary question regarding its status as a national project.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways answering the parliamentary question.
National Highways (NHs): Roads of national importance in India maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Himachal Pradesh: A state in India from which proposals for declaration/upgradation of state roads as National Highways are received.
State Highways (SHs): Roads within a state that are maintained by the state government.
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan NMP: A national master plan for multi-modal connectivity in India.
Rajeev Bharadwaj: The member of parliament who raised the unstarred question about the BaijnathBharmour road project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 707
ANSWERED ON 24th July, 2025
BAIJNATH-BHARMOUR ROAD PROJECT
707. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Baijnath–Bharmour road project (Utrala–Holi road
project) has been declared as a national project by the Government
and if so, the details thereof; and;
(b) whether funds have been allocated for the first phase of the
project and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) and (b) The Government in the Ministry of Road, Transport and
Highways is primarily responsible for development and
maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Baijnath–Bharmour
(Utrala–Holi) road is not a National Highway.
The Government receives proposals from various State
Governments / Union Territories (UTs), including from the StateGovernment of Himachal Pradesh, from time to time, for
declaration / upgradation of State roads, including State Highways
(SHs), as new NHs. Decisions are taken to notify State Roads as
NHs from time to time based on the broad principles of declaration
of NHs, requirement of connectivity, inter-se priority and synergy
with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP).
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