The New Indian Express ·
Himachal connectivity boost: Two tunnels on Kiratpur-Manali highway to open on September 11
In a major connectivity boost to Himachal Pradesh, two tunnels between Deod and Hanogi on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane national highway are set to open on Friday, following safety checks and a trial run by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The two twin-tube tunnels measure 2.8 km and 650 metres and are connected by a 140-metre bridge near Khotinalla. Initially, one tube of each tunnel will be opened, bypassing a 5.5-km landslide-prone stretch of the old road and reducing travel time between Mandi and Kullu by about 60 minutes.
The tunnels are expected to ease congestion on the Pandoh-Takoli section of National Highway-03, a key route linking Mandi with Kullu-Manali and further towards Leh-Ladakh.
