37-km stretch of Kangra-Shimla road project to have two lanes

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, November 29

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has made certain changes in the Kangra-Shimla four-lane project.

Major towns to be bypassed

The major towns falling between Kangra and Shimla like Daulatpur, Jwalamukhi, Nadaun, Hamirpur, Bhota Ghumarwin, Ghagass, Bhararighat and Darlaghat will be bypassed. Ghumarwin of Bilaspur will be kept out of the four-lane project by constructing a six-km bypass.

As per the revised plan now, the 37-km stretch of the highway between Kachhiyari and Bhangwar and Jwalamukhi-Nadaun will now be two-lane. The decision has been taken because of low volume of traffic and to avoid the displacement of people.

The NHAI has released Rs 133 crore for land acquisition. Official sources told The Tribune that by the mid July 2022, the land acquisition process and awarding of construction works to companies for the remaining four phases will also be completed.

The state government is also geared up for the land acquisition process keeping in view the Assembly elections due in December 2022. Being a narrow road, it needs immediate widening. The land acquisition is a major hurdle in the project because of the high cost of land.

Sources said the government had also directed the HPSEB for the shifting of transmission lines, electricity poles and other structures from the acquired land in three months. Likewise, the Forest Department had also been asked to remove trees.

The major towns falling between Kangra and Shimla like Daulatpur, Jwalamukhi, Nadaun, Hamirpur, Bhota Ghumarwin, Ghagass, Bhararighat, Darlaghat and Ghanahatti will be bypassed. Ghumarwin town of Bilaspur district will be kept out of the four-lane project by constructing a six-km bypass. Likewise, the congested temple town of Jwalamukhi will also be bypassed.

It has also been proposed to convert the existing Daulatpur tunnel into a two-way lane.