It is learned that the central government has given its nod for executing the four-laning of the 300-km-long Shimla-Mataur-Pathankot national highway that passes through five districts of Himachal Pradesh.

The central government has included the highway under its National Highways Development Programme, said a government spokesperson. This four-lane Shimla-Mataur-Pathankot road will reduce the time and cost of travel and will help to promote tourism and development of the region.

Official sources said Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had also raised this issue with the chairman of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to complete four-laning of the road on priority.