Himachal Pradesh, the northern state of India, has secured approval for 56 national highway projects with a total length of 3,993km.

The Union Government of India has sanctioned the projects to the state and urged the latter to speed up preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs).

Last year, the central government sanctioned four national highways (NH).

"With the addition of 56 new roads, the total number of highways will touch 60."

With the addition of 56 new roads, the total number of highways will touch 60.

The government intends to spend Rs 13bn ($192.6m) on these projects.

In April, the central government announced that it planned to construct nearly 2,000km of highways in 12 hill states with an invesment of Rs250bn ($3.7bn).

As per the plan, majority of road works were announced to be undertaken in Arunachal Pradesh, followed by Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur.

National Highways and Industrial Development Corporation of India was tasked with the execution of a majority of these projects.

Last year, the road ministry awarded around 10,000km of highway contracts worth Rs 1,000bn ($15.07bn).