NHAI to open toll plaza near Ranital soon, trials in progress

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is likely to make operational the toll plaza near Ranital on the Kangra- Hamirpur stretch of the four lane project. According to information, a toll plaza has been set up at Ghatta, near Ranital on 5-B package, where construction work of the highway is nearing completion.

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The infrastructure for the toll plaza at Ghatta has already been installed. The equipment is under testing these days. After successful trials, the NHAI would start collecting toll from drivers of vehicles plying on the highway. However, no tariff has been notified so far since matter is pending at the NHAI headquarter in New Delhi.

Sources said the NHAI had been making all efforts for the commissioning of the Kangra-Hamirpur stretch of the highway before March 31. A twin tube tunnels near Daultapur is also nearing completion. Besides, the construction of the longest flyover-cum- bridge over Baner river, near Tanda Medical College, has already been completed.

A small culvert on the opening of the tunnel near Kangra is under construction these days. After its completion, the twin tube tunnel would also be opened for the traffic, which would reduce the distance between Kangra and Ranital by 7 km.

Besides, the NHAI also has installed electronic radar on the highway to check the speed of vehicles. The maximum speed of vehicles on this stretch has been fixed a 60 km per hour.

Earlier, the NHAI opened the Ranital flyover and Bathu Bridge for the traffic on this part of the highway. The construction of this phase was awarded to Gawar Construction Company which would complete the project in the stipulated period fixed by the NHAI. The total cost of this project has been estimated at Rs 1,100 crore.

The construction of the 225-km highway project between Kangra and Shimla has been divided into five phases. The Shimla-Kangra four-lane highway is one of the strategic road projects that will connect six districts of the state with Shimla. The Kangra-Shimla four lane project falls in the priority list of the NHAI.