PMO seeks report on Kiratpur-Manali four-lane construction; BJP aims for pre-election inauguration of Himachal NH

The Newz Radar

SHIMLA: In a significant development, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is learnt to have sought a status report from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding the construction progress of the Kiratpur to Nachgala segment of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane national highway project.

The request is learnt to have come following a letter from BJP national president JP Nadda to the PMO, emphasising the urgency of inaugurating the four-lane road before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“The BJP is steadfast in its determination to inaugurate the four-lane stretch at any cost before the elections. It was to be inaugurated in June 2023. Despite a central team inspection, the road faced substantial damage during the rain disasters of July and August last year, prompting the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to temporarily halt the inauguration process. Recently, efforts to resume the inauguration gained momentum,” said a BJP leader.

Due to the consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, the NHAI faced scheduling challenges with the PMO. In response, the NHAI decided to inaugurate the four-lane from Kiratpur to Pong in Sundernagar and has submitted a status report on the construction work and inauguration plans to the ministry.

The PMO is expected to soon finalise the date for the inauguration. The 69.20-km four-lane construction from Kiratpur to Pong, executed at a cost of Rs 4,759.09 crore, has been showcased in a six-feet-long model in Jaipur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to review the complete four-lane stretch from Kiratpur to Manali through this model.

Varun Chari, Project Director of NHAI at Mandi, confirmed the submission of the status report to the ministry and expressed expectations for a prompt decision on the inauguration date.

Additionally, the completion date for the Mandi Bypass construction has been extended to June, with the initial target set for the end of March. Meanwhile, NHAI has tasked the KMC company with completing the four-lane construction from Bindravani to Pandoh by December, despite extending the deadline for the fourth time. The slow pace of the Nachgala to Pandoh four-laning has raised concerns among the public and drivers, leading to inconveniences.