By IANS,
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Saturday laid the foundation stone of 1,200-metre long Bangana-Dhaneta road tunnel that will connect Una and Hamirpur districts, an official said here. The project will cost over Rs.145 crore.
Addressing a gathering at Bangana village in Una district, Dhumal said the tunnel construction would be started on priority for which a provision of Rs.10 crore had already been made.
The project is estimated to cost Rs.145.47 crore and would reduce distance between Bangana and Dhaneta towns by eight kilometers, he added.
The tunnel would facilitate pilgrims and tourists visiting popular Hindu shrines of Naina Devi, Jawalamukhi, Chintpurni and Deothsidh.
The state cabinet July 27 gave its approval to the Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project along with another mega tunnel Bhubbu Jot.
The 2.8 km Bhubbu Jot tunnel on the Jogindernagar-Ghatasni-Shilh Bhadwani-Kullu-Telang road would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.367 crore, an official said.
The Bhubbu Jot pass in Kullu district remains covered with heavy snow from December to March every year. The tunnel beneath the pass would provide all-weather road connectivity.
The state government has awarded the contract to Austrian consultancy Bernard Ingenieure to conduct feasibility study and prepare detailed project reports on the tunnels.
The state Public Works Department would construct the tunnels.