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Deod and Hanogi Tunnels Set to Ease Himachal Traffic
Two new tunnels are being opened on the road to Manali.
They are called the Deod Tunnel and the Hanogi Tunnel.
The tunnels are between Mandi and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh.
They will help vehicles avoid places where traffic often gets stuck.
Travel between Mandi and Kullu could fall from almost two hours to about one hour.
Tourists and local commuters are expected to have smoother journeys.
The tunnels shorten a difficult road section and may improve travel toward Kullu, Manali and Leh-Ladakh.
They are part of a larger highway project costing Rs 4,465.94 crore.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the Deod and Hanogi tunnels will open to traffic on September 11, 2026.
The tunnels are located on the Pandoh-Takoli section of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway between Mandi and Kullu.
The 2.8-kilometre Deod Tunnel and 650-metre Hanogi Tunnel bypass major congestion-prone sections.
The tunnels are expected to cut travel time between Mandi and Kullu from nearly two hours to about one hour.
The tunnels are part of the Rs 4,465.94-crore Pandoh Bypass-Takoli four-laning project executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode.
- Who
- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the tunnel opening; the facilities will serve tourists, commuters and local residents.
- What
- The 2.8-kilometre Deod Tunnel and 650-metre Hanogi Tunnel are being opened to traffic.
- Where
- The tunnels are on the Pandoh-Takoli section of the Kiratpur-Manali highway, between Mandi and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh.
- When
- September 11, 2026.
- Why
- They are intended to bypass major bottlenecks, reduce congestion and shorten travel time.
Key facts
- Deod Tunnel length
- 2.8 kilometres
- Hanogi Tunnel length
- 650 metres
- Expected travel-time reduction
- From nearly two hours to about one hour between Mandi and Kullu
- Highway section
- Pandoh-Takoli stretch of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway
- Project cost
- Rs 4,465.94 crore
- Construction model
- Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)
- Opening date
- September 11, 2026
Quotes
Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways
“The new tunnels will shorten the vulnerable stretch of road from around 6 km to 3.5 km, helping ease congestion at key bottlenecks such as Jogni Mata Mandir, Deod and Hanogi. These locations often witness traffic jams during peak tourist seasons, with commuters facing delays of up to two hours or more.”
NDTV
“A major boost to connectivity in Himachal Pradesh. Two major tunnels at Deod and Hanogi are being opened to traffic on September 11, 2026, marking a significant transformation in connectivity on the Pandoh-Takoli section of NH-3.”
NDTV
Sources
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