Chandigarh–Shimla Expressway is an under-construction expressway, connecting Chandigarh to Shimla along National Highway 5. It is a four-lane expressway covering a length of 120 kilometre. With an aim to improve connectivity around the national capital, the new Himalayan Expressway connects with the Chandigarh-Shimla Expressway. It significantly reduces the travel time between Delhi and Shimla.
Chandigarh-Shimla Expressway: Construction details
Chandigarh-Shimla Expressway project will include the development of 11 tunnels linking Maliana in Shimla and Kothi village. This will cut down the distance by 19 km. Each tunnel will have a length of 9.5 km.
The two longest tunnels will cover 2.27 km each between Taradevi and Shogi, and Kandaghat and Solan.
Himalayan expressway
Himalayan expressway section of Chandigarh-Shimla Expressway was opened in 2012. It is a 27.5-km section of the highway, connecting Zirakpur in Punjab to Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh. It passes through the Shivaliks at the trijunction of Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. The project was developed by Jaypee Group at a total cost of Rs 412 crore.
The expressway is equipped with modern facilities, including Video Incident Detection System (VIDS). There is a 14-lane toll plaza at Chandimandir, equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.
Chandigarh-Shimla Expressway: Map route details
The Himalayan expressway section of the Chandigarh-Shimla Expressway covers two km in Zirakpur, Punjab, 21 km in Panchkula, Haryana, and 4.5 km in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh. The route helps reduce the distance between Zirakpur and Parwanoo by about three km. The route also provides easy commuting between Delhi and Shimla, by cutting down travel time by one hour, enabling travellers bypass the towns of Pinjore and Kalka. At present, the travel time between the two cities is around seven hours.
See also: Upcoming expressways in India
FAQs
What is Zirakpur-Parwanoo highway project?
Zirakpur-Parwanoo express bypass is a 10-km-long express bypass from Zirakpur in Punjab to Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh.
What is the Chandigarh to Shimla highway?
Chandigarh to Shimla highway, also known as NH-5, is a 660-km highway that connects Firozpur in Punjab to Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh.
