RS. 150-CR road tunnel proposed

Dharamsala, February 10, 2013: “Himachal government has a plan to dig a 4.9 kilometer long road tunnel beneath mighty Dhaoladhar snow range from Chamunda, near Dharamsala to Holi- a remote area in Chamba district.

This will reduce Dharamsala -Chamba road distance by 270 kms.

This will also provide uninterrupted year long access to the snow bound area of Chamba district with rest of state.

This has been disclosed by the Himachal Urban Development Minister Sudheer Sharma here on Sunday.

Taking to this correspondent, the minister said, “PWD has already been instructed to prepare a survey report and DPR.”

The minister said that initially the project was proposed 30 kms away from the new site at Uttrala in Kangra district, but shifted as this site can provide 12 months access than 9 months from that of  Uttrala and the length of the tunnel will also be reduced by around 500 meters, the site was shifted. The estimated cost of the project  shall be 145.74 crore.

“The work on this tunnel will start after obtaining feasibility report and the detailed designs,” said Sharma.

He said that the Congress government is of the opinion that roads are the life line of communication in the state, and more tunnels shall be board to reduce the distances in the state.

The Vir Bhadra-led state government with the help of the Centre has a wider  plan to create  more road  tunnels at the cost of Rs 5,000 crore.