Work on the Rs 1,700-crore Rohtang Tunnel project, aimed at providing an all-weather alternative route to strategic Leh-Ladakh region besides Himachal’s snow-bound tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, will go full steam ahead this year-end.

The nine-km-long tunnel, a foundation for which was laid by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has already received clearances of the Union ministry of Forests and Environment. The execution work is handled by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The tunnel will be completed in 2014.

PWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur on Friday informed the Assembly that the Centre had provided Rs 226.14 crore funding for the next financial year and some of the preliminary works at the site, including an approach road, had been taken up on priority basis. In 2006-07, the Centre had provided Rs 22.88 crore and in 2007-08, it was Rs 37.31 crore.

Dispelling the fears expressed by Ram Lal Markandey, an MLA from Lahaul-Spiti, over slow pace of work, the minister said the BJP Government attached great importance to the project and had been in touch with the BRO to see that the execution work was done without delay.

“Tendering process for construction work is in an advanced stage. Technical bids were opened on February 25 by the BRO and these were under evaluation. A Rs 45-crore contract for construction of two avalanche control structures on the south portal side have been awarded,” he said.

The minister said the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment had approved diversion of 75.0506 hectares of land for tunnel boring.The BRO has also deposited Rs 8.44 crore with the forest department. Because of heavy snow at Rohtang Tunnel during the winter, the road connectivity for Lahaul-Spiti and Leh from Himachal remains disrupted for almost four to five months. This tunnel will be built below the pass so that it bypasses heavy snow, besides reducing the distance by 44 km, officials say.