Chandigarh: Travel from Punjab to the popular Himachal Pradesh tourist destination of Manali is set to become easier with two new tunnels on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway opening to regular traffic.
The Diyod (T4-01) and Hanogi (T4-02) tunnels on the Pandoh-Takoli section between Mandi and Kullu were opened for vehicles on Friday.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the development on social media, saying the tunnels would significantly improve connectivity on NH-03 in Himachal Pradesh.
The new infrastructure is expected to provide relief to tourists travelling to Manali from Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi and other parts of the country, particularly from traffic congestion and landslide-prone stretches.
Travel time between Mandi and Kullu cut by half
With the tunnels becoming operational, the journey between Mandi and Kullu is expected to take around one hour instead of two hours.
The 2.8-km Diyod tunnel and the 650-metre Hanogi tunnel are connected by a 140-metre-long and 45-metre-high bridge near Khotinalla.
The project has reduced the previously affected road stretch from around 6 km to 3.5 km, helping bypass congestion-prone areas near Jogni Mata temple, Diyod and Hanogi.
Vehicles can now bypass nearly 5.5 km of difficult terrain, where falling rocks and debris during rains had posed safety risks. The tunnels also eliminate the need to negotiate narrow and winding sections, easing pressure on the main highway.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has opened the tunnels ahead of the winter tourist season and Kullu Dussehra.
The improved connectivity is also expected to benefit travellers and commercial vehicles heading towards Atal Tunnel, Rohtang Pass, Manikaran, Shinkula Pass, Keylong and Leh-Ladakh.
The tunnels have been equipped with modern safety facilities, including CCTV cameras, ventilation systems and emergency exits.
