Fast track to Kangra: Tunnels to slash travel time to 15 minutes

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has achieved a major milestone by completing the finishing work on the 1,200-m twin-tube tunnels at Daulatpur. Constructed at a cost of Rs 200 crore, the tunnels are a key feature of the Kangra-Ranital stretch of the Shimla-Kangra four-lane project.

However, the tunnels are yet to be opened for traffic as a culvert over a local rivulet on the highway is still under construction. Regular traffic will be permitted once the culvert work is complete.

Once operational, the tunnels are set to transform travel between Ranital and Kangra, reducing the distance by 6 km and slashing travel time from 45 minutes to just 15 minutes. Importantly, the new alignment will bypass Kangra town, directly connecting the Shimla-Kangra four-lane project with the Pathankot-Mandi four-lane highway at Kacchiari, near Tanda Medical College.

The new infrastructure will ease access for heavy transport and passenger vehicles, which earlier struggled with the low height of the colonial-era tunnel on the route. Now, Volvo sleeper buses will be able to reach Palampur, Dharamsala and Bir-Billing, where previously only medium-sized Volvo buses operated. Additionally, large transport trucks carrying light vehicles like Maruti and Hyundai models will be able to deliver to dealerships in Kangra, Dharamsala, Palampur, Baijnath and Joginder Nagar without difficulty.

Advanced systems have been installed inside the tunnels to ensure commuter safety and operational efficiency. High-capacity fans provide ventilation, while LED and fluorescent lighting enhances visibility. Comprehensive fire safety measures, including smoke detectors, fire alarms, sprinklers and fire extinguishers, have also been put in place.

The excavation for the twin-tube tunnels began in October 2023 and was completed in record time. Both tubes are interconnected by a cross-passage at the centre, designed to enhance safety during emergencies.

Himachal Tribune