The state government will seek funds from the World Bank for implementing major tunnel projects planned to improve road connectivity in the state. Presiding over a meeting of senior officers PWD minister Gulab Singh said here today that the state electricity board had been asked to prepare a detailed and consolidated pre- feasibility report for execution of three tunnel projects at the earliest. The construction of a 3-km-long tunnel under the Bhubu pass in the Lag Valley wildlife sanctuary was proposed to connect Jogindernagar subdivision with the Kulu valley through the Ghatasani-Barot- Sidhwani road. The proposed road, estimated to cost Rs 70 crore, would shorten the distance between Jogindernagar and Kulu by 55 km . The road would provide easy access to Kulu, besides accelerating the pace of development in the Lag valley by bringing it on the international tourism map. The minister said the second tunnel was proposed on the Dhaneta-Bangana road which would go a long way in ensuring smooth flow of traffic. The third tunnel was proposed under the Uttrala-Sarsi- Holi Pass in Chamba district. Gulab Singh asserted that the environment and ecological balance would not be allowed to be disturbed due to the construction of tunnels and categorically stated that no project would be implemented at the cost of fragile environment. The PWD horticulture wing would be revamped so that flowering and ornamental plants could be planted along the national and state highways, besides other roads. He said pre-feasibility reports for construction of four tunnels in Shimla city to ease traffic congestion had been prepared. These included a 690-metre tunnel from Lift to Lakkar Bazar at an estimated cost of Rs. 45 crore, a Rs 70-crore 1140-metre tunnel from Lift to the HIMFED petrol pump, a Rs 59-crore 860-metre-long-tunnel from the HIMFED petrol pump to the IGMC and a 150-metre tunnel from Sanjauli to Dhalli to be constructed alongside the existing single-lane tunnel. Widening of the 72-metre-long Auckland tunnel would be completed by December at a cost of Rs 5.38 crore.