The sinking of earth on a small stretch towards North-Portal side of the under-construction Rohtang tunnel in Kullu district "is not a cause of alarm and will not hamper the ongoing excavation work", Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen A T Patnaik said today.
Gen Patnaik, who inspected the site, said the cave-in was a normal process in the young fragile hills and the work was progressing well.
He was impressed with the improved conditions of the 500 mts stretch of Manali-Rohtang Highway at Rani Nallah, which was earlier a bottleneck and caused traffic disruptions.
The road was upgraded by the 38 Task Force using new Zeocrete Technology with application of chemicals and the road was in fine condition and fully traffic worthy.
Gen Patnaik said the progress on Darcha-Shinkunla road has been outstanding due to the construction of bridges over Siri Nallan at the 17th KM, which has provided the much desired relief to the people of Zanskar valley of Ladakh region who had to travelled either on foot or on ponies as they can now travel on vehicles up to the 24th KM.
This has been appreciated by councillor of Zanskar Kalzan Angdu. Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri and the Lahaul-Spiti MLA have also complimented the 38 Task Force for the work done in the tribal region of Lahaul-Spiti.
The Border Roads Organisation, constructing the 8.9 km-long Rohtang tunnel and maintaining the highest Manali-Leh highway under hostile weather conditions, has been awarded by Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
