With the tunnel now the lifeline for Lahaul, the administration has asked for advance machinery at key points.

Local residents welcomed the announcement. Many said they had been asking the administration for a firm timeline since last winter, and hoped the promised budget would reach the ground.

What happens next

Experts cautioned that in the hills, execution matters more than announcements: slope stability, drainage and a realistic monsoon plan decide whether a project lasts.

Officials in Shimla said the work will be taken up in phases, with the first stretch to be completed before the next tourist season. Departments have been asked to file weekly progress reports.