NHAI connects Tunnel No. 4 on Shimla bypass

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has successfully connected the two ends of Tunnel No. 4 on the Shimla bypass in record time, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress.

On December 31, 2025, the final day of the year, the breakthrough of Tunnel No. 4 was completed, which is expected to accelerate work on the Shimla bypass. NHAI PIU Shimla Project Director Anand Kumar, Bharat Construction Managing Director Rajiv Garg, along with field staff, were present during the tunnel breakthrough ceremony.

This achievement comes close on the heels of the breakthrough of Tunnel No. 5, which was completed on December 23 last month.

Tunnel No. 4 has a total length of 410 metres and was completed in a record time of just nine months. The tunnel was constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which is currently regarded as one of the most effective tunnelling techniques.

The 27.45-km-long Shimla bypass project of the NHAI is a crucial stretch of the Chandigarh–Shimla corridor and includes a total of five tunnels. Once completed, the four-lane corridor will significantly improve travel speed and comfort on this busy route, which witnesses heavy tourist traffic, particularly on weekends and during the summer season. The Shimla bypass is expected to substantially reduce traffic congestion within the city and cut travel time to Shimla (Dhalli) by approximately one hour. The project will provide a major boost to tourism and offer greater convenience to both local residents and tourists travelling to Upper Shimla.