Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu road to be widened, set to cost Rs 1,400 cr

Dipender Manta

Mandi, January 23

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will widen the strategically important Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore to ensure better connectivity to the Spiti region of Lahaul and Spiti district from Manali and Lahaul. It will be a double-lane highway. The BRO has already started the exercise to widen the road after getting approval of funds from the Central Government.

Divided into four sections

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• The BRO has divided this road widening project into four sections — Sumdo-Kaza, Kaza-Losar, Losar-Batal and Batal-Gramphu
• In Kaza-Losar and Losar-Batal sections, the widening of the highway is in progress. The BRO is mulling start of widening of the Batal-Gramphu section of the highway
• The tender has been awarded and the work will begin in June this year depending on weather conditions
• The land acquisition process is underway for Sumdo-Kaza section

The Spiti region of Lahaul and Spiti district shares border with China. So, the Central Government is keen to ensure better road connectivity to the region from Manali and Lahaul to ensure an easy access for the Indian Army to border and also provide access to common civilians to promote tourism.

The 211-km-long road has been in a pathetic condition for many years. At present, it takes more than seven hours to cover the distance. However, after the widening of the road, it will take almost four hours to reach Sumdo from Gramphu or vice-versa.

The Spiti residents have been demanding the widening of the road for the past many years. The BRO has set a target to complete the work by 2026. The BRO had initiated a survey for widening of the road in August 2020. Earlier, the Central Government had approved Rs 200 crore for maintenance of this road.

According to sources, the BRO has divided the road project into four sections, namely Sumdo-Kaza, Kaza-Losar, Losar-Batal and Batal-Gramphu. In two sections from Kaza to Losar and Losar to Batal, the widening of the road is under progress. The BRO is mulling to start widening of the Batal-Gramphu road section. The tender has been awarded and the construction work will begin in June this year, depending on weather conditions. The land acquisition process is underway for the Sumdo-Kaza section.

Sonam Targe, a resident of Spiti, says, “We have been waiting desperately for the completion of the road project. When it will be completed, the tourism industry will get a boost in the region. This will create self-employment opportunities for the local youth.”

Lahaul and Spiti MLA Ravi Thakur told The Tribune that the Central Government had approved Rs 1,400 crore for the widening of the Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway. It would be a double-lane highway, which would reduce travel time between Sumdo and Gramphu by three hours. It would not only provide an easy access for Indian Army to the China border in Spiti, but also give impetus to tourism in this area.

“Farmers of the Spiti region will be able to transport their produce to distant markets in time,” he added.

The MLA said the road also linked the Spiti region to Kinnaur district. When the Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti road was damaged at Nigulsari in Kinnaur district last year, traffic to Manali was diverted from Kinnaur to the Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway.