In a meeting with senior officers of the Public Works Department and Public Works Minister Thakur Gulab Singh, it is cleared that detailed Project Reports regarding construction of three traffic tunnels in different parts of the State will be completed by the March this year so as to ensure completion of work on these ambitious projects at the earliest.
Thakur Gulab Singh said that consultancy services for preparing feasibility study and Detailed Project Report regarding construction of three tunnels viz. Bangana-Dhaneta, Holi-Utrala and Bhubbu Jot tunnel was awarded to M/s Bernard Ingenieure of Austria. He said that delay in work for preparing the DPRs was due to the heavy snow at Bhubbu Jot and Jalsu Jot, the sites for carrying out drilling for Geological Investigation of the strata. He said that roads were on the priority agenda of the State Government and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has time and again shown his commitment towards better road connectivity in the State.
Public Works Minister said that after completing Geological Investigation mapping and survey work of Bangana Dhaneta tunnel, Detailed Project Report and detailed designs, work would be started on these tunnels so as to make traveling in the State a commuters’ delight besides helping in environment conservation. He said that after completing geo-technical formalities and geographical mapping, work for construction could be taken in hand.
He said that the proposed Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel would facilitate the pilgrims and tourists visiting Shri Naina Devi, Jawalamukhi, Chintpurni and Deothsidh shrines. He said that by constructing this traffic tunnel, distance between Bangana to Dhaneta would be reduced by seven kms.
Thakur Gulab Singh said inception report regarding the Bhubu-Jot Tunnel had been completed so that the proposed 2.8 km traffic tunnel underneath Bhubbu Jot on Jogindernagar-Ghatasni-Shilh Bhadwani-Kullu-Telang road could be taken in hand. 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 proposed Holi-Utrala tunnel connecting Baijnath with Bharmour in Chamba would ensure all weather shorter route to Bharmour area of Chamba District.
Principal Secretary, Public Works Ajay Mittal apprised the Minister regarding progress in the preparation of the DPRs. He said that the officers of the department were providing all possible assistance to the Consultants in preparation of the DPRs. N.L Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works, Pradeep Chauhan, Chief Engineer and Project Director and other senior officers of the department were present in the meeting.
