Dharamshala, June 10 -- Himachal deputy chief minister (CM) Mukesh Agnihotri met Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari at his residence in New Delhi on Monday and urged him to extend the validity of all-India taxi permits from existing 12 years to 15 years. He also thanked him for extending a generous hand towards Himachal Pradesh. He stated that in view ofits diverse topographical conditions, the development of hilly states like Himachal solely depends upon expanding the road and bridge infrastructure. Agnihotri informed the Union minister that the state government has requested the ministry regarding increasing the validity of All India taxi permits from existing 12 years to 15 years. Gadkari assured that he would look into the matter sympathetically and also directed the authorities concerned to process the case accordingly. Agnihotri also urged the Union minister to release the remaining funds to the tune of Rs.7.63 crore under the scheme for special assistance to the state for capital investment (incentives for scrapping of old vehicles). He also demanded to declare Nangal to Jaijon road as national highway as it would also cater to the proposed bulk drug park. Agnihotri stated that a DPR to the tune of Rs.429 crore has already been prepared and it would be submitted to the Government of India under Gati Shakti scheme. He also urged that the proposed four-laning of NH 503 A from Amritsar to Hoshiarpur may be extended from Bankhandi (HP boundary) to Jhaleda. Himachal public works department minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday called on Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkariat New Delhi and requested him to take up the construction offour laning of NH-05 from Dhalli to Rampur on priority. He urged the Union minister to declare Ghatasni-Shilha-Badhani-Bhubujot- Kullu road, including Bhubujot tunnel, as national highway keeping in view its strategic importance. The public works department minister also requested speedy completion of ongoing construction works on the existing highways. He also informed that request to include five national highways in Prime Minister Gati Shakti has been submitted by the state government and urged for approval of the same....