Shimla to have three tunnels to ease traffic pressure

SHIMLA: The Union Government has sanctioned three tunnels to be constructed in Shimla town and widening of 14 km long circular road into double lane under Jawaharlal Nehru urban Renewable Mission (JUNRM), besides approving Rs 3,600 crore city development plan, Himachal Irrigation and Public Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said on Friday.
 

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the proposed Lakkar Bazaar-Lift tunnel, Himfed- Igmc tunnel and Lift-Himfed Tunnel would have a combined length of 1.42 km. All the three tunnels would reduce the distance between the connecting points by eight to ten km and reduce traffic congestion.
 
He said there were about a dozen points, identified as traffic bottlenecks, along the Circular Road and construction of tunnels and double laning of the road would make the capital town free from traffic jams to a great extent.
 
He said that the investigation of the three tunnel projects was in progress and work would commence after the detailed project report was submitted while the widening of Auckland tunnel was already underway.
 
In spite of heavy traffic congestion in Shimla town due to massive increase in number of vehicles, the Government did not take any initiative for construction of tunnels which would have caused least damage to environment and resulted in long term saving of fuel. It was for the first time after the Britishers left Shimla, that the planners have focused attention on construction of tunnels. During the British regime six tunnels were constructed in Shimla Town to reduce congestion and cut the distance short. These tunnels were mainly used for transportation of goods on mules and known as 'mule tunnels', but now the mode of transportation has changed.
 
Kaul Singh said that the proposed length of Lift-Lakkar Bazar tunnel was 350 mts, the lift-Himfed tunnel was 1.2 km long while the IGMC-Himfed tunnel was 950 mts long.
 
The Sanjauli by-pass was also nearing completion and would be officially inaugurated on October 2 next and the perennial problem of traffic jams in Sanjauli Bazar area would be over, he informed.