Rohtang Tunnel to be completed by 2013 : HP CM

Shimla, Sep 6 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the nine-km-long Rohtang tunnel would be completed by 2013 for which global tenders had been floated.

The tunnel, which would connect Lahaul Valley with Manali, was an ambitious project of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had announced its construction during her tour to the Lahaul valley a few years ago, he said. This tunnel would cater to the connectivity requirements of the valley people on their demand and also for the supplies of the defence forces passing through the valley.

He said this in his meeting with the Director General of Border Roads Lt Gen K S Rao, PVSM, SC, SM, who called on him here.

The Chief Minister said service tunnel would be required to be constructed alongside the main tunnel as part of the safety measure to carry the different types of wires including high tension under ground wires connecting the valley as also to cater to the future requirements of the hydel power generation potential available in the valley.

Besides the service tunnel would protect the main tunnel from radiation and other invisible impacts and also facilitate the repair and maintenance activities of the same, he said. The Chief Minister added if required, the state government would consider sharing the financial burden of the service tunnel after examining all related aspects.

Mr Singh also expressed concern over the poor border roads condition under the DGBR control connecting border areas with rest of the world, saying the state government had been lending its cooperation in restoration of road damages in the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul the DGBR needed to pay heed towards the maintenance and upkeep of the roads under their control to facilitate smooth plying of the vehicles. He said that those roads were also important for the state since tribal areas of Spiti and Lahaul were connected through the same besides the entire Kinnaur district.

UNI