After redesigning the four-laning of the Parwanoo-Shimla section of the NH-22 with change and alignment of some portions to avoid large-scale demolition of commercial and residential structures along the road, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to carry out four-laning work under a single project, instead of two separate projects as planned earlier. Project, which will virtually bypass the entire Shimla city, will cost Rs 1,786 crore.
To ensure the four-lane is congestion free, the redesigned project, which will start from Timber Trail to the Mashobra-Kufri bifurcation near Dhalli, will have five tunnels and a total length of 3.78 km. Five railway over-bridges, 12 major bridges with an elevated road section at Kandaghat where the four lanes would pass over the rail track, 600m cable-stayed bridge over Shuralu Khad and 550m long flyover would be constructed at Chambaghat. The total length would be 89.70 km and it would help reduce the distance by about 16 km.
The Solan-Shimla lane would take a new alignment from Kaithlighat and run along the Shoghi and Tara Devi hills to join the Junga road. The proposed five tunnels would be constructed between Kumarhatti and Solan on the bypass road, Kandaghat, Shoghi, Tara Devi and Mashobra- Kufri bifurcation.
To save the structures along the road in Jabli, Dharmapur, Kumarhatti and some other stretches, the NHAI has decided to go for one-side widening instead of both-side. A flyover is proposed at Kumarhatti to avoid destruction of structures along the narrow stretch of the highway from where two bifurcations to Nahan and Barog take off.
The project would be executed on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis with a total concession period of 24 years and construction period of three years.
