Tunnel work under Manali NH four-laning project begins

Tribune News Service

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Mandi, July 20

In order to speed up the four-laning construction work on the Chandigarh-Manali highway in Mandi district, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started work on two tunnels between Pandoh Dam and Takoli.

The total length of the twin tube tunnels will be 12.5 km.

When completed, the road will bypass popular Hanogi temple, where tourists frequently stop to pay obeisance to the local deity.

Colonel Yogesh Chandra, Director, NHAI, Mandi, said a total of 14 tunnels would be constructed under the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project.

Work on six of these is already in progress.

“We have started construction work of the tunnel from Pandoh Dam as part of the four-laning work. Efforts will be made to complete the work within the stipulated time”, he said. The expected cost of this project is around Rs2,500 crore.

Earlier, there was a proposal to construct four-lane road directly on the NH-21 alongside the Beas, but after several surveys it was found unfeasible as strata in hillside between Pandoh and Aut on the main NH is quite soft. This could lead to frequent landslides as during the rainy season, such accidents are common in the region.

Yogesh Chandra said that the NHAI authority was working hard to accomplish this four-lanning project in stipulated time.