Built to replace 171-year-old British-era tunnel, new one won’t ease traffic congestion, say residents
The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The design of the newly inaugurated double-lane tunnel in Sanjauli near Shimla, built to replace the 171-year-old colonial-era tunnel, is flawed, allege residents, citing the sudden turn towards the Sanjauli end.
The turn, the locals alleged, could lead to accidents in case any vehicle driven by someone unaware of the tunnel’s sudden turn drove in a high speed. Besides, the space at the Sanjauli end is quite narrow compared to the Dhalli end.
Not only accidents, the sudden turn could also lead to traffic jams as cars coming from Cemetary Road will also have to cross the narrow portion outside the tunnel. The tunnel is a crucial link on the Shimla-Kinnaur National Highway connecting the Himachal Pradesh capital with tourist towns Kufri, Naldehra, Narkanda and other parts of upper Shimla.
Not only this, there is not even a footpath for pedestrians walking towards Cemetary Road area. The private company entrusted the work claims to have completed it and the government patted itself on the back for it. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated it on Monday (December 25, 2023). But the tunnel does not seem to be fulfilling the purpose for which it was built.
Due to the narrow road in front of the tunnel, the traffic has to be managed through the old tunnel even though the new tunnel is double-lane. The length of the new tunnel is 154.22 metres. Its construction started in March 2022 and it was built at a cost of Rs 47.6 crore.
The tunnel has been built parallel to the old tunnel which was built by the British in 1852. The need to build a new tunnel was felt because the old tunnel was single lane. To run the traffic smoothly, vehicles had to be stopped on one side for those on the other side to cross.
“Although there is enough space at the sloping end of the new tunnel, the road ahead of the Sanjauli end has been kept narrow and a sharp curve has been given here as soon as one comes out of the tunnel. In such a situation, not only will there be a traffic jam, but there is also a possibility of an accident. People did not get the relief they were supposed to get by building the tunnel, which is why people are also raising questions about this tunnel,” said Aanchal Chauhan, a resident.
Local resident Devendra Sharma says that the tunnel is well built and it was needed with time, but pedestrians are facing difficulty as there is no path for pedestrians.
Another local, Pratibha Bali, said that this tunnel has been built after about 172 years, but there is no path for the people of densely populated Cemetary to walk.
Kishan Chand Gezta said that the space in front of the tunnel was so tight that two buses cannot pass through it at the same time. He says that the government should acquire compulsory space for the road ahead. Although people have talked to the CM about this, it remains to be seen what decision the government would take.
