Shimla, Feb 20 (IANS): Traffic snarls on National Highway 22 that connects Shimla and Parwanoo - on the Haryana-Himachal border - may ease soon as allocation of work for its four-laning is likely to start in October.

This fact came to light in a written reply by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the assembly Thursday.

Virbhadra Singh said the compensation for acquisition of land for the highway would be paid as per the National Highway Act of 1956.

Official sources told IANS that the four-laning of the 88-km stretch would cost Rs.2,730 crore and would shorten the distance by 17 km.

The construction work to be executed by the National Highways Authority of India and likely to be completed within three years.

The chief minister had informed the house last year that 16 bridges, including five over the Kalka-Shimla rail track, would be constructed with its four-laning.

He said the project required acquisition of 105 hectares of forest land and 101 hectares of private land.