• Source:JND
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The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) opened the Kiratpur-Nerchowk section of Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway for regular traffic movement on Sunday. The 87-km long highway, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 2,100 crore, consists of five tunnels and 14 bridges. It is equipped with CCTV cameras and Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) and has a maximum speed limit of 60 km/hour.

The highway was built on the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and engineering, procurement and construction (EPCD) models instead of the built-operate-transport (BOT) model. Under the HAM model, a 40 per cent share of cost and under the EPCD model 100 per cent was borne by the NHAI.

Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur, Abid Hussain Sadiq informed that the section has been opened for a trial basis and a formal inauguration event will be held later. He stated that two toll plazas at Garha Maura on the Himachal-Punjab border and Baloh are also being made operational. The NHAI officials also performed a religious ceremony at Garha Maura and Dehar before opening the highway to the general public.

The Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-lane stretch excludes the Sundernagar Bypass, which is likely to be completed soon. The Nerchowk-Pandoh stretch would also likely be completed by December 31 this year and Pandoh-Takoli by March 31 next year.

Under this project, sections of the road between Takoli to Kullu and Kullu to Manali had been completed but suffered heavy damages during July’s flash floods and landslides. A significant portion of it was completely washed away near Manali.

NHAI had earlier in May this year opened five tunnels built between Hanogi to Jhalog for traffic. Launched in 2013, it was tipped as a major win for the region, one that would reduce the distance between Kiratpur to Manali to 197 km from the existing 232 km and cut the travel time between Manali and Chandigarh by three hours. The project missed its 2021 deadline and is now expected to be completed by 2024 but the recent damages to the project due to floods may delay the construction work.

The four-laning project includes a total of 37 bridges, 14 tunnels, one elevated viaduct, and a double-lane of 13-km highway stretch with slope protection, culverts, retaining walls, drainage and many other features.

Once complete, the NHAI claims that it will reduce the number of road accidents and ensure a smooth flow of traffic. It is expected to save an estimated ₹900-1,000 crore per annum in fuel and is likely to curtain environmental pollution.