‘Thotha’ Stage Gives Vikramaditya Singh a Big Push Amid Rousing Reception in Chopal
CHOPAL: The traditional battleground of Thotha—the centuries-old bow-and-arrow martial sport of the Panshi and Shathi clans tracing their lineage to the Pandava era—gave Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh a major political and cultural boost today, as he received a rousing reception at the Tehsil Sports Complex in Chopal.
Presiding as the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony of the First Inter-State (Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) Thotha Sports and Cultural Tournament, organized by the State Thotha Sports and Cultural Federation, Singh blended cultural pride with a massive infrastructure push for the apple-belt constituency.
Hailing Thotha as a living testament to the shared sporting heritage of Himachal and Uttarakhand, the Minister said the state government is committed to preserving Dev Sanskriti (deity culture) and traditional sports. He noted that such inter-state platforms keep youth rooted in discipline, physical fitness, and team spirit while steering them away from the menace of drug abuse.
Mega Road Push for the Apple Belt
Leveraging the platform to announce key connectivity projects, Singh stated that PWD works worth ₹255 crore are currently underway in Chopal, alongside 17 newly sanctioned roads worth ₹150 crore where work has already begun.
In a major relief for orchardists, Singh announced that ₹250 crore has been sanctioned for the crucial Chaila–Yashwantnagar road after raising the matter with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Work on the project will begin shortly, benefiting farmers across Chopal, Rohru, Rampur, Jubbal-Kotkhai, and Theog. Furthermore, all clearances have been secured for the long-pending Nerwa bypass and a 60-meter-span bridge, which will soon ease chronic traffic bottlenecks in Nerwa town.
For roads, retaining walls, and bridges damaged during the 2025 monsoons, ₹70 crore has been sanctioned for Chopal, with ₹20 crore already released as the first installment. Asserting that central disaster aid is Himachal’s legitimate right, Singh invoked the cordial rapport between former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, urging leaders to rise above partisan politics for the state’s development.
National Highway Demand & Rural Connectivity
Recalling that none of the 69 National Highways announced for Himachal in 2017 materialized on the ground, Singh said he would strongly revive the demand for a National Highway for Chopal before the Centre.
Under PMGSY-IV (Batch 2), proposals for 13 rural roads in Chopal have been submitted. Singh urged Panchayat representatives to expedite land gift deeds and Forest Rights Act (FRA) clearances so the tally of sanctioned roads can be scaled up to 25. He also revealed that special central permission has been secured to complete road connectivity to the remote Dodra-Kwar region by the end of 2026.
Civic Upgrades & Local Announcements
Responding to local demands, the Minister assured priority budget allocation for a sewerage scheme and a revenue-generating multi-storey complex for the Chopal Nagar Panchayat. He also announced a permanent community stage in Chopal—to be funded jointly through his personal contribution and pooled funds from the CM, MP, and DC—alongside an immediate grant of ₹51,000 for the local Mela Committee.
Earlier, Singh heard public grievances at Deha (Balson), inspected the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Chopal, and chaired a review meeting with PWD, Jal Shakti, Electricity, and Revenue officials.
HPCC Vice-President Rajneesh Kimta attended as the Special Guest, alongside Chopal Nagar Panchayat President Ponita Thakur, former HPCC Secretary Chandra Mohan Thakur, and State Thotha Federation General Secretary O.P. Mehta.
