Kullu-Bijli Mahadev road to be widened

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, January 4

The Public Works Department (PWD) has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to widen the 20.6 km Ramshila-Bijli Mahadev road at a cost of Rs 27 crore. There is a plan to widen the road from Ramshila to Trambali to 5.5 metres and further to 3.75 metres till Gobha, the last motorable point before Bijli Mahadev.

To cost Rs27 crore

• There is a plan to widen the road from Ramshila to Trambali to 5.5 metres
• Further, it will be widened to 3.75 metres till Gobha, the last motorable point before Bijli Mahadev
• The road widening will cost Rs27 crore
• The DPR has been sent to National Rural Development Agency for final approval

KK Sharma, Superintending Engineer, PWD, Kullu, says that the road will be upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III) and the Central Government will provide 90 per cent funds while the state government will give 10 per cent.

He says that the DPR was sent to the State Technical Advisory team at the NIT-Hamirpur and the permission had been received. Now, the file has been sent to the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, Delhi, for the final approval.

He says, “After getting the nod from the NRIDA, the work will begin”. Bijli Mahadev witnesses a heavy influx of devotees and tourists, especially from April to September. Commuters get stuck in traffic jams for hours together due to the narrow single-lane road. During the apple season, even big trucks ply on the road, causing more trouble to commuters.

There was a proposal to widen the road but nothing happened, leading to resentment among the people of the Kharal valley. They are demanding widening of the road as the traffic load has increased manifold.

A ropeway to Bijli Mahadev is also proposed and many surveys have been done. Even the work was awarded, but nothing had been done yet.