Two new tunnels open on the Kiratpur–Manali highway, cutting Mandi–Kullu to about an hour
The Deod and Hanogi tunnels on the Pandoh–Takoli section opened to traffic on 11 September, bypassing a landslide-prone stretch on the main road from Chandigarh to Manali.
What opened
Two tunnels on the Kiratpur–Manali four-lane highway (NH-3) opened to traffic on Friday 11 September. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the opening, and PTC News and NDTV both reported it. The Deod tunnel is about 2.8 kilometres long and the Hanogi tunnel about 650 metres. They sit on the Pandoh–Takoli section between Mandi and Kullu, linked by a 140-metre bridge, 45 metres high, near Khotinalla.
According to PTC News, the tunnels shorten the affected stretch of road from about 6 kilometres to 3.5 kilometres and take traffic away from a section of mountainside prone to landslides and debris in the monsoon. The minister said the Mandi–Kullu drive falls from around two hours to nearly one. PTC News reports that the tunnels have CCTV, ventilation and emergency exits.
What it means for a road trip to Manali
The Pandoh–Takoli gorge has long been one of the slowest and least reliable parts of the drive from Delhi and Chandigarh to Manali, and the main gateway road for journeys onward to Lahaul and Ladakh. Bypassing it should make the Mandi–Kullu leg quicker and less exposed to rockfall, in time for the Kullu Dussehra and winter season. Treat “about an hour” as the time in normal traffic, not a guarantee: the rest of the highway still runs through hill terrain, and weather closures elsewhere on the route are not affected by these tunnels.
If you are planning a self-drive Himachal trip this autumn, the practical change is a shorter, steadier middle section of the day. Check road conditions with Himachal Pradesh police or district advisories before setting out after heavy rain. Our Manali by car itinerary uses this route.
Sources
This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.
- Kiratpur-Manali four-lane gets major boost: Two new tunnels open, Mandi-Kullu travel time cut to 1 hour — PTC News, 11 September 2026
- Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates Deod, Hanogi Tunnels In Himachal - Key To Delhi-Manali Route — NDTV, 13 September 2026
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