The construction work on three key tunnel projects in India’s Himachal Pradesh will start early next year. Indian public works minister Thakur Gulab Singh made the announcement yesterday.
?Singh added that the state electricity board had prepared a pre-feasibility report for the projects, and 18 consultants had shown an interest.
The department has constituted a technical committee headed by the Engineering-in-chief to shortlist consultants by 24 July, the minister said.
The tentative cost of Bhubu Jot tunnel to be constructed between Shilh Badahani-Telang on Joginderngar Ghatssani-Telang Kullu road was estimated at INR 875.5M (USD 18.7M), while the cost of Holi-Utrala tunnel and Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel was INR 1.4bn (30M) and INR 354M (7.5M) respectively, Singh added.
The tunnels will shorten the distance between Jogindernagar-Kullu by 71km and the driving time by three hours.
