Shimla to Mataur highway project: Ground work for Rs 10,000 crore project commences
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has informed that it has commenced the groundwork on NH-88, also known as the Shimla-Mataur national highway project. It is a four-lane highway project worth Rs 10,000 crore.
The current stretch from Shalghat near Shimla to Nauni Chowk in Bilaspur is the most treacherous, and the entire four-lane project has been divided into six packages:
Package-1 includes the Shimla to Shalaghat stretch, followed by Shalaghat to Nauni Chowk Bilaspur (package-2), Bhager to Hamirpur (package-3), Hamirpur bypass (package-4A), Hamirpur bypass from Cheelbahal to Bhangwar (package-4), and Bhangwar to Kangra (package-5B).
As of now Rs 650 crore has already been spent on land acquisition for all six packages, and Rs 3,208.53 crore has been sanctioned for packages 5B, 4, and 4A. The work on the Bhangwar to Kangra stretch has already begun and is likely to be completed by the end of next year.
The detailed project reports for the Bhager to Hamirpur and Shimla to Shalaghat stretches are being prepared on a war footing, and after their completion, the construction work will be awarded to the winning bidder.
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