910 Meter Log Tunnel Connecting Badrinath And Gaurikund Highway Cross

• 01 Nov 2023

Why In News?

On October 30, 2023, a 910 meter long tunnel has been passed at Rudraprayag District headquarters to connect Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway.

Key Points:

• Under the 'All Weather Road Project' of the Government of India, in the second phase, a tunnel is being constructed in Rudraprayag to connect Badrinath and Gaurikund Highway. Tunnel construction work was started with Bhoomi Pujan in December 2022. In March this year, the executing agency Bharat Construction Company started digging for the tunnel from Belani and Jagtoli.
• The executing company was given a target to cross this tunnel by December, but the company crossed the tunnel in seven months with the help of 150 laborers and machines. In the presence of top officials of the company, the tunnel was crossed 910 meters from Belani to Jagtoli.
• Under the project, along with the tunnel, a 200 meter long motor bridge is also proposed on the Alaknanda River, digging for the abutment of which is going on in full swing. According to NH officials, the project work will be completed by June 2025.
• It is noteworthy that in the year 2008-09, BRO had prepared a proposal for construction of a tunnel in the district headquarters and sent it to the Government of India. In the year 2016, the Ministry of Roads and Transport of the Government of India approved this proposal. After this, a survey for tunnel construction was conducted in three phases in the presence of BRO officials.
• Based on the survey report, in the year 2019, the Government of India approved the construction of the tunnel and included it in the second phase of the All Weather Road Project. Besides, in-principle approval of Rs 200 crore was also given for the construction of tunnel and bridge on Alaknanda river.