Proposal on 2 bypasses in Kinnaur sought

SHIMLA: With Urni Dhank and Malling Nallah witnessing frequent landslides that block the national highway passing through Kinnaur frequently, the Union government has sought a proposal from the state government to construct two bypasses in Kinnaur district to ensure round-the-year road connectivity up to the last check post located along China border.
Sources said while one bypass would be from Tapri to Kilba at Urni Dhank, another would be constructed from Leo to Chango. With the construction, border areas along China would have all-weather road connectivity to facilitate defence forces.
Sources said around Rs 55 crore would be spent on the construction of bypasses to connect border areas of Kaurik and Sumdo borders in Kinnaur district. tnn
A senior government official said in Kinnaur, the national highway connecting border areas gets frequently blocked due to landslides at Urni and Malling nullah besides heavy snowfall.
Official said Rs 15 crore and Rs 40 would be spent on the construction of bypass roads at Urni Dhank and Leo, respectively. This 16km new road from Leo to Chango would help vehicles to avoid Maling nullah, known as a sliding zone for the last many decades, and cut short distance to Sumdoh.
Besides construction of new bypasses, there is already a proposal to construct a 3.5km tunnel near Khab to make Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti highway all-weather road. The proposed tunnel would reduce the travel time to reach Chango via Nako and Maling due to steep incline.
In April, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, during a review meeting of national highways and Central Road Fund (CRF) and attended by Union Health Minister J P Nadda on behalf of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, had also demanded maintenance and broadening of old Hindustan-Tibet road in Kinnaur district which was the only permanent and reliable solution for many years to come.