The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The travel on the Kalka-Shimla four-lane is set to be a thrilling experience for both locals and tourists over the next two years when it’s expected to be completed, but the green cost for the national highway has been enormous.
About 4,000 government and 1,161 private trees are to be axed on a 28.45-km stretch from Shakrala to Dhalli-Mashobra junction. An environmentalist said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should have ensured minimum cutting of trees. He cited the massive ecological damaged suffered in the form of landslides following torrential rain in Shimla during last year’s monsoon.
About 40 per cent of the work has already been completed on the Shakrala-Dhalli stretch. A world-class cable stay bridge will also come up on this road, further enhancing the region’s allure.
As of now, approximately 70 per cent of the four-laning work spanning three phases from Kalka to Shimla has been completed. The remaining 30 per cent, stretching from Solan to Kaithlighat and from Kaithlighat to Dhalli-Mashobra junction, has commenced. The NHAI has set a target to finish the four-lane work by 2026, promising to reduce travel time between Chandigarh and Shimla to approximately two and a half hours, down from the current three and a half hours.
In the third phase of the project, a sum of Rs 3,914.77 crore will be allocated to facilitate the four-laning from Kaithlighat to Shimla. The 28.45-km route will feature 27 bridges, five tunnels, flyovers and the world-class cable stay bridge.
As part of the ongoing work, three tunnels and 17 bridges are currently under construction from Kaithlighat to Shakrala.
The Kalka-Shimla four-lane project is being built in three phases, with the first phase spanning from Kalka to Pinjore already completed. The second phase from Pinjore to Kaithlighat is 85 per cent complete with the third phase now underway.
