Kiratpur-Manali four-lane gets major boost: Two new tunnels open, Mandi-Kullu travel time cut to 1 hour
PTC Web Desk: Travelling from Punjab and neighbouring states to Manali is set to become easier and safer with the opening of two new tunnels on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway.
The Deod (T4-01) and Hanogi (T4-02) tunnels on the Pandoh-Takoli stretch between Mandi and Kullu have been opened for regular traffic. The development is expected to provide major relief to tourists travelling towards Manali, particularly during the busy winter tourism season.
Mandi-Kullu journey time reduced
The opening of the two tunnels has significantly shortened the travel time between Mandi and Kullu.
A journey that earlier took around two hours can now be completed in nearly one hour, according to the information shared by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has opened the tunnels ahead of the winter tourist rush and the Kullu Dussehra celebrations.
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Relief From traffic jams and landslide-prone stretches
The new infrastructure is expected to address one of the biggest problems faced by motorists on this route — long traffic jams and frequent disruptions caused by landslides.
The Deod tunnel is around 2.8 km long, while the Hanogi tunnel stretches for about 650 metre. The two tunnels are connected through a 140-metre-long and 45-metre-high bridge near Khotinalla.
With the new route operational, the affected road section has been reduced from around 6 km to 3.5 km.
Tourists and local commuters are expected to benefit from smoother vehicular movement near areas such as Jogni Mata Temple, Deod and Hanogi, which have often witnessed long queues of vehicles.
Dangerous mountain stretch bypassed
The tunnels will allow vehicles to bypass nearly 5.5 km of a difficult mountain stretch. During the monsoon, falling rocks, loose debris and landslides have frequently created risks for motorists on this section. The new alignment will reduce the need to travel through narrow and winding portions of the old road.
It is also expected to ease pressure on the main highway and improve the movement of both private vehicles and commercial traffic.
Better connectivity to Himachal tourist destinations
The improvement is likely to benefit more than just travellers heading to Manali. The route is also important for people travelling towards popular destinations such as Atal Tunnel, Rohtang Pass, Manikaran, Shinkula Pass, Keylong and Leh-Ladakh.
For tourists travelling from Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi and other parts of the country, the improved road connectivity could make journeys towards the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh more convenient.
Modern safety features inside tunnels
The newly opened tunnels have been equipped with several safety and monitoring systems.
These include CCTV cameras, ventilation facilities and emergency exits, designed to improve safety and help authorities respond quickly in case of an incident.
- PTC NEWS
