Mandi: ₹125 Crore, 300-Meter-Long Wire Duct Bridge Proposed Near 9 Mile to Tackle Landslide Zone

Mandi, May 14:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to construct a 300-meter-long wire duct bridge near the 9 Mile area between Mandi and Pandoh, a persistent trouble spot on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway project. The estimated cost of the project is ₹125 crore, and a formal proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for approval.

The 9 Mile stretch has long been a headache for authorities, with frequent landslides disrupting traffic and posing serious safety hazards. Last monsoon season, the area saw repeated slope failures that led to road closures and posed risks to motorists. In several instances, vehicles narrowly escaped being swept away by falling debris. Due to the fragile geological conditions, any attempt to tamper with the hillside could trigger even more severe landslides, making slope stabilization unfeasible.

Complicating matters further, a steep gorge leading down to the Beas River flanks the other side of the road, ruling out the possibility of widening the existing two-lane stretch—let alone constructing a full-fledged four-lane highway.

To resolve this, the NHAI conducted a geotagging survey of the region, based on which it prepared the proposal for a wire duct bridge that would bypass the unstable terrain altogether. Project Director Varun Chari confirmed that the proposal has been sent to the ministry and that construction will begin once approval is granted. The plan has been tailored to suit the challenging topography of the area.

What Is a Wire Duct Bridge?
A wire duct bridge is essentially a type of elevated road structure, similar in form and function to a flyover. However, unlike traditional flyovers, which are usually constructed over existing roads or rail lines, wire duct bridges are built in areas where no road exists and where conventional road construction is either impractical or impossible. These structures require substantial support due to the difficult terrain they span and are often the only viable solution in geologically sensitive or inaccessible zones.

In this case, the proposed bridge aims to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow while minimizing environmental disruption and avoiding further geological instability.