3.5-km twin-tube tunnel to bypass Mandi town; Gawar Construction Company executing project, BCC handling tunnel works; completion targeted for September 2027
Munish Sood
MANDI
The excavation work on the strategically important Mandi bypass tunnel, which will be the longest tunnel to be built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Himachal Pradesh, has crossed the 60 per cent mark. The 3.5-km-long twin-tube tunnel is being constructed as a key component of the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway project and is targeted for completion by September 2027.
The work has been awarded to Gawar Construction Company, while Bharat Construction Company (BCC) is looking after the specialised tunnel construction works. BCC General Manager R.C.S. Rawat shared the latest progress during a media interaction at Bijni on Thursday following the Vishwakarma Puja.
According to the NHAI project document, the work involves four-laning with paved shoulders of the Bijni-Mandi section, covering the existing Km 202.815 to Km 208.000 of NH-20, now designated as New NH-154. The total design length of the package is 5.357 km, including the 3.5-km twin-tube tunnel. The project is being executed under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), Package-VB.
Construction of the tunnels began in March 2025, and around 60 per cent of the excavation has now been completed. The tunnel is being constructed through challenging Himalayan terrain and represents one of the most significant engineering components of the Mandi bypass.
Its completion is expected to transform traffic movement through Mandi town. Through traffic will be able to bypass Mandi from both the Chandigarh and Dharamshala sides, particularly benefiting vehicles travelling towards Kullu-Manali and those coming from the Pathankot-Dharamshala side.
The biggest visible impact is expected in Khaliar, Purani Mandi, Bhuili, Paddal and Saulikhad, where heavy highway traffic contributes significantly to congestion. Once the bypass becomes operational, long-distance traffic will be diverted away from these urban stretches, which is expected to drastically reduce congestion and make local movement considerably smoother.
For Mandi, the project is particularly significant as the town is a major transit point between the plains and Kullu-Manali. Tourist vehicles, commercial traffic and local commuters currently share the same road network, resulting in increased pressure during weekends, holidays and the peak tourist season.
The bypass will create a clearer separation between through highway traffic and local urban traffic, allowing vehicles that do not need to enter Mandi to continue their journey without passing through the town.
At Bijni, Vishwakarma Puja was organised with the participation of company officials, engineers, employees and workers. A havan and aarti were performed in honour of Lord Vishwakarma, with prayers offered for the safety of workers and the speedy and successful completion of the tunnel project.
Rawat said BCC was making every effort to maintain the pace of work and achieve the September 2027 completion target.
Once completed, the 3.5-km twin-tube tunnel—the longest NHAI tunnel to be built in Himachal Pradesh—is expected to become a landmark component of the state’s highway infrastructure, while providing Mandi town with a long-awaited solution to the problem of heavy through traffic.
