Shimla, August 22, 2024: Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla today took stock of the progress at the Shungal Tunnel near Kaithlighat, part of the ambitious Shimla-Chandigarh highway expansion project.
This project, stretching 28.5 km with 10 tunnels and 27 bridges, is set to drastically cut travel time and distance between Kaithlighat and Dhalli by 15 km, saving commuters nearly an hour.
The Governor praised the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for its eco-friendly approach, highlighting that the tunnel construction has saved around 5,000 trees and curbed soil erosion.
This is part of a larger effort to prevent the loss of 22,500 trees through the entire 10-tunnel project, which is expected to be completed by March 2027 at a cost of ₹4,800 crore.
NHAI's Regional Officer, Abdul Basit, shared that the 1,410-meter-long Shungal Tunnel, costing about ₹90 crore, is likely to be completed by January 2025.
This project promises not just a smoother ride but also a greener one, reducing air pollution and fuel consumption in the hilly terrain.
The Governor was joined by senior officials, including Secretary to the Governor Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Solan Manmohan Sharma, and SP Gaurav Singh, who collectively reviewed the work progress and discussed the project's impact on the region.
