Char Dham project: CCEA approves nod to Rs 1,384cr tunnel in U''khand

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 20

The central government on Tuesday approved a 4.531-km tunnel project in Uttarakhand that would be part of the 'Char Dham' project to connect Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.

Estimated to cost Rs 1,384 crore, Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel will be two-laned and two-way, and is expected to bring down travel time between Dharasu and Yamunotri by an hour, cutting the journey short by 20 km.

"The CCEA has given approval to the construction of 4.5 km long 2-lane bi-directional Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel with escape passage including approaches on Dharasu -Yamunotri section between Chainage 25.4 km and Chainage 51 km in Uttarakhand," road, transport and highways ministry said in a statement after a meeting of the CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The tunnel will be along NH-134 (old NH-94) in Uttarakhand and will be built under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Mode, funded under NH (O) Scheme of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Ministry. It is meant to provide “all-weather connectivity to Yamunotri, encouraging regional socio-economic development, trade and tourism in the country”, the press statement said.

The target for completing the project is four years.

"The civil construction cost of the project is estimated at Rs 1,119.69 crore, while the total project cost is Rs 1,383.78 crore, which is inclusive of the cost towards Land Acquisition & Rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities as well as maintenance and operation cost of tunnel for 4 years," the statement said.