The Himachal Pradesh government has hired an Austrian firm, Bernard Engineers, to prepare a Detailed Projet Report (DPR) and feasibility report of 1,285-metre long Bangana-Dhaneta (will connect Una and Hamirpur districts) and 3.2 km long Bhubhu Jot tunnels (will connect Mandi and Kullu districts) in the state. Bhubhu Jot tunnel would reduce the distance by 57 kilometres whereas Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel it would reduce the distance by only 8 kilometres.
Replying to a question on present status of construction of tunnels in the state, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh revealed that the Himachal Pradesh government had given an administrative approval for expenditure of Rs 145.46 crore and 367.12 crore for the Bangana-Dhaneta and Bhubhu Jot traffic tunnels respectively. An agreement of Rs 6.97 crore has been signed with the Austrian firm .
Singh added that the state government has made a provision of Rs 20 crore for these works from its own budget and Draft Feasibility Reports of these tunnels from the consultant firm have been received and a sum of Rs 1.45 crore had been paid to the firm till date.
