In the meeting between PWD Minister Thakur Gulab Singh and senior officers of the Department, it is decided that detailed Project Report regarding construction of three traffic tunnels in different parts of the State will be prepared by the December. Public Works Minister said that consultancy services for an amount of Rs 6.97 crore for preparing feasibility study and Detailed Project Report regarding construction of three tunnels viz. Bangana-Dhaneta, Holi-Utrala and Bhubbu Jot tunnel were awarded to Ms. Bernard Ingenieure of Austria. He said that the Detailed Project Report regarding these tunnels will be submitted before December this year and work will be started soon after. He said that roads are on the priority for the State Government and Chief Minister has time and again shown his commitment towards better road connectivity in the State.
He said that the proposed 1.2 kms. Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel will ensure all weather shorter route between Una and Hamirpur districts. He said that on completion, this tunnel will facilitate the pilgrims and tourists visiting Naina Devi, Jawalamukhi, Chintpurni and Deothsidh shrines. He said that by constructing this traffic tunnel distance between Bangana to Dhaneta will be reduced by seven kms.
Thakur Gulab Singh said inception report regarding the Bhubu-Jot Tunnel have been completed so that the proposed 2.8 km traffic tunnel underneath Bhubbu Jot on Jogindernagar-Ghatasni-Shilh Bhadwani-Kullu-Telang road can be taken in hand which will reduce distance between Jogindernagar to Kullu by over 70 kms. He said that since Bhubbu Jot remains covered with heavy snow from December to March every year, thus the proposed tunnel would provide all weather road connectivity to the commuters. He said that besides it would help in giving boost to tourism activities in the region.
Public Works Minister said that proposed 4.9 kms Holi-Utrala tunnel connecting Baijnath with Bharmour in Chamba will be constructed underneath Jalsu Jot which would ensure all weather shorter route to Bharmour area of Chamba District. He directed the officers of the Public Works department to ensure acquiring speedy forest related clearances so that work on these ambitious tunnel projects could be started at the earliest.
Thakur Gulab Singh said that since construction of tunnels is on the priority agenda of the State Government, efforts will be made to initiate various modalities for starting construction of these tunnels at the earliest. He said that after obtaining feasibility report and detailed designs, work would be started on these tunnels so as to make travelling in the State a commuters’ delight besides helping in environment conservation.
Dr P.C Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Public Works, P.L. Chauhan, Special Secretary, Public Works, K.K. Malhotra, Superintendent Engineer, H.P. Road Infrastructure Corporation, Lalit Bhushan, Executive Engineer and other senior officers of the department were present at the meeting.
