Come September, Bir to Barot to be a 3-hour drive

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Palampur, July 12

A 38-km road connecting Bir-Billing to Barot will be ready in September as over 95 per cent work has been done and the remaining portion will be completed in the next two months.

Stating this here today, Baijnath MLA, who is also a Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government, said the distance between Bir and Barot would be reduced by 42 km once the road is made operational.

The distance between Bir and Barot via Jogindernagar is 80 km, which would come down to 38 km with the opening of the road.

Addressing the media, Kishori Lal said he had visited the area yesterday, along with engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD), to review the road project.

“The road will open new avenues of tourism in Chhota Bhangal valley as it will pass through various mountains, including the highest point at 10,000 feet, to reach Barot. For tourists, it will be a three-hour drive from Bir to Barot. The metalling of the road has been completed. However, a bridge on Uhal river is under construction,” he added.

He said the project had been hanging fire for the past 30 years. “It was the Congress government that cleared the project in 2016 and sanctioned Rs 50 crore. The road will benefit the tribal people of Chhota and Bara Bhangal,” he added.