PWD explores possibility of tunnel to bypass traffic

The Public Works Department (PWD) has started the probabilities of construction of a tunnel to bypass the traffic so that the problem of traffic congestion in the town could be cracked.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has started the probabilities of construction of a tunnel to bypass the traffic so that the problem of traffic congestion in the town could be cracked.

HT Image

The town is in the need of a bypass but the case is pending for forest clearance since many years.

Sources said since the chance of construction of a 12km bypass has been pending for the last fifteen years other possibilities should be explored.

The satellites images of the town (up) and the initial design of the tunnel (pink-down)

There was a proposal for the bypass from Banog-Dharkiyari- Sainwala but according to sources there is no chance for the construction of the bypass and instead a proposal for the construction of a 1.8 km tunnel is underway.

Due to non-availability of bypass heavy vehicles also cross from the congested roads of the town making it difficult for the residents.

The work of widening the World Bank aided project- Kumarhatti-Banog (Nahan) road is still in progress.

Residents of the town feel that after the completion of this work a heavy traffic flow from Shimla-Dehradun would be diverted. The town, which was founded in 1621, was not designed for heavy traffic flow.

The residents of the town feel that the bypass is the need of the town otherwise the situation could become worse. They said the proposal of the tunnel should be welcomed because it is the only alternative.

Executive engineer Ajay Verma said the proposal of construction of the tunnel has been forwarded to the superintendent engineer for further perusal.

He admitted that the chance of the proposed bypass is low.