Travel from Manali to Chandigarh
Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-lane highway thrown open for traffic
More teams/labour have been deployed by NHAI now on stretch from Manali to Mandi, we hope the highway is made normal for traffic without jams and congestion.
The highway has been opened on a trial basis, while a formal inauguration will be held later.
two toll plazas at Garha Maura on Himachal-Punjab border and Baloh also being made operational.
Being constructed at a cost of ₹2,100 crore, the 87-km highway has five tunnels and 14 bridges. It is equipped with closed-circuit television cameras and Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) and the maximum speed limit has been fixed at 60km/hour. The ITMS will automatically issue challan for speeding violations.
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.
Notably, 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 Jhalogi for traffic.
Once complete, the NHAI claims that it will reduce the number of road accidents and ensure smooth flow of traffic. It is expected to save an estimated ₹900-1,000 crore per annum in fuel and maintenance cost, while also curtain environmental pollution.