Travel from Manali to Chandigarh <br />Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-lane highway thrown open for traffic<br /><br />More teams/labour have been deployed by NHAI now on stretch from Manali to Mandi, we hope the highway is made normal for traffic without jams and congestion.<br /><br />The highway has been opened on a trial basis, while a formal inauguration will be held later.<br /><br />two toll plazas at Garha Maura on Himachal-Punjab border and Baloh also being made operational.<br /><br />Being constructed at a cost of ₹2,100 crore, the 87-km highway has five tunnels and 14 bridges. It is equipped with closed-circuit television cameras and Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) and the maximum speed limit has been fixed at 60km/hour. The ITMS will automatically issue challan for speeding violations.<br /><br />The Kiratpur-Nerchowk four lane stretch excludes the Sundernagar Bypass, which is likely to be completed soon. The Nerchowk-Pandoh stretch would also likely be completed by December 31 this year and Pandoh-Takoli by March 31 next year.<br />Notably, sections of the road between Takoli to Kullu and Kullu to Manali had been completed, but suffered heavy damages during July’s flash floods and landslides. A significant portion of it was completely washed away near Manali.<br />NHAI had earlier in May this year opened five tunnels built between Hanogi to Jhalogi for traffic.<br /><br />Once complete, the NHAI claims that it will reduce the number of road accidents and ensure smooth flow of traffic. It is expected to save an estimated ₹900-1,000 crore per annum in fuel and maintenance cost, while also curtain environmental pollution.
