The Newz Radar
Mandi:National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is gearing up for the inauguration of the 70- km stretch of the ambitious Kiratpur-Manali National Highway, which has been awaiting a formal inauguration for the past six months.
This section of the highway has been built for Rs 4700 crore and had already been completed and thrown open to the public last week of June last year.
The formal inauguration was planned in July but due to massive floods triggered by large-scale destruction in Mandi and Kullu areas during the rainy season, the inauguration was postponed. The newly constructed four-lane National Highway was badly damaged at several places forcing authorities to roll back the decision.
The NHAI authorities have, in the first phase, repaired the entire stretch of this portion of the highway and are now gearing up for its formal inauguration. They have sent a formal proposal to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the inauguration and were expecting that either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the project.
NHAI project director Varun Chari, when contacted, confirmed that his office had sent a proposal for the formal inauguration of the 70-km stretch of the National Highway between Kiratpur and Pungh. “Once the approval is granted all necessary arrangements shall be made immediately,” he added.
Despite significant damage due to heavy rains, the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project is progressing.
Chari informed TNR that his office had also prepared a 3D model of the entire stretch of the highway, to be inaugurated, which shall be placed at the point of inauguration.
The initial cost of the Kiratpur Manali four-lane project was Rs 1818.47 crores but it was increased to Rs 6000 crores later.
