Pathankot-Mandi fourlane project report finalised, submitted to govt

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, December 10

A detailed project report (DPR) for 219-km-long Pathankot-Mandi fourlane project has been finalised by the NHAI and submitted to the state government.

Official sources said here today that the preparation of the DPR had been completed well before time by Joint Ventures and Infrastructure Casta Limited. The cost of the project has been valued at Rs 8,000 crore.

It has been proposed to construct eight bypasses, three tunnels, three railway overbridges and three flyovers. Special stress has been laid on minimum inconvenience to people residing along the highway and avoid dislocation of business establishments. The alignment of the four-lane highway has been changed and only a few stretches of old highway will be used.

The distance between Pathankot and Mandi will be reduced from 219 km to 171 km when the fourlane will be completed. All major towns like Nurpur, Mataur, Nagrota Bagwan, Palampur, Maranda, Baijnath Paprola and Jogindernagar will be bypassed.

The longest 33 km bypass will be constructed between Paror and Chauntra along the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line without any curve on the highway. This bypass will leave all important towns such as Palampur, Maranda Baijnath, Paprola and Jogindernagar aside. Another 7-km bypass will be constructed between Sunehar and Malan to avoid congested and traffic jam-prone areas of Nagrota Bagwan.

The major business towns of Kangra district like Jassor, Shahpur and Gaggal will have flyovers to avoid dislocation of commercial establishments and inconvenience to public.

Besides, 5,100-metre tunnel will be constructed between Kotla and Draman, another 7,200-mt tunnel between Mataur and Kachhyari and the third 3,500 tunnel will be constructed between Bijni and Mandi linking the Chandigarh-Manali highway. Three modern railway overbridges have also been planned at Malan, Paror and Ahju near Jogindernagar.

Road to reduce distance by 48 km

• The cost of the project has been valued at Rs 8,000 cr
• Bypasses, tunnels, railway overbridges and flyovers are also proposed
• The distance between Pathankot -Mandi will be reduced from 219 km to 171 km
• Nurpur, Nagrota, Palampur, Baijnath and Jogindernagar will be bypassed