Firm seeks new deadline for Solan-Kaithlighat road widening project
After having missed the last deadline, AIREF Engineers, engaged in the widening of the 22.91-km Solan-Kaithlighat section of the Kalka-Shimla National Highway-5 to four lanes, has sought another deadline to complete the work.
The last deadline had expired in October 2024. The work originally assigned for the 30-month deadline was supposed to be completed by June 2022. The work was running behind schedule and was further slated to take several months for its completion. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is executing the work, had assigned the work to AIREF Engineers in December 2018.
With major works like finishing of a 667-m tunnel, construction of a bridge and 2.5-km road yet to be completed, the company has sought an extension.
Anand Dahiya, Project Director, NHAI, said that, “The AIREF Engineers has sought an extension of time as the work was yet to be completed. Though the company has sought 1,000 days extension, it has been decided not to provide a blanket extension for the entire stretch but delink the stretches like tunnel, bridge, etc. and prescribe a specific deadline for each portion.”
He added that the Railways has granted approval to construct four piers for a bridge near Salogra. This has removed a major impediment in the way of the progress of project work. Its drawing is being approved and this will pave way for its construction.
Barring a 2.5-km stretch of road, the widening of the remaining road has been completed while the work on major structures like tunnels and bridges is yet to be completed. The original length of the tunnel was 160 m but it was later increased by 207 m. Considerable time was lost in seeking approvals for this increased length.
This is the third phase of the National Highway Development Project on the Kalka-Shimla highway. The highway is being constructed in the engineering, procurement and construction mode. With several impediments like hurdles in land acquisition, highway projects have not been able to stick to their deadline.
The widening of the first Parwanoo-Solan road stretch, which began in September 2015, was completed in April 2021 after 67 months though it had a 30-month deadline.
