BRO achieves milestone in tunnel construction below Chamba

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) succeeded in joining the northern and southern portals of a tunnel being constructed below Chamba town in Tehri district on the Rishikesh-Dharasu national highway number 94. Joining the two portals of the tunnel being built as part of the Char Dham road project was carried out with necessary precautions during the lockdown in place to contain the spread of Covid-19.

According to the BRO, the construction of this tunnel was especially challenging due to aspects like weak geology, constant water drainage and the risk of subsidence due to densely constructed area above the tunnel site.

Speaking on the occasion through video link, the Union minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that the BRO is playing an important role in the ambitious Char Dham road project. The completion of this tunnel will help in lending speed to movement of traffic.

Latest Australian technology has been used in the construction of this tunnel which will be ready for traffic by October this year, about three months earlier than the scheduled time of January 2021. This 440 metre long tunnel and 4.2 kilometre road is being constructed at a cost of Rs  87 crore.

It is pertinent to mention here that the BRO is constructing 249 kilometres of national highway as part of the Rs 12,000 crore Char Dham road project. The roads being constructed by the BRO are for Gangotri and Badrinath. Most of the works are running ahead of schedule and are expected to be completed by October this year. Gadkari congratulated the BRO director general, lieutenant general Harpal Singh, chief engineer Ashu Singh Rathor and the team for completing various works of national importance during the past two years.

Meanwhile, CM Trivendra Singh Rawat thanked Gadkari and congratulated the BRO on this development. He said that with the completion of the tunnel, not only will Chamba be free of traffic jam, the journey to Gangotri and Yamunotri will also become more convenient. This tunnel will provide major relief to the locals and also boost economic activities in the area, added Rawat.