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Delayed supply of Bitumen owing US-Iran conflict hampers metalling of Old Hindustan-Tibet NH
Shimla, May 25,
The ongoing US-Iran conflict has begun impacting road infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh with the Union Government informing the Himachal Pradesh High Court that shortage of bitumen due to the international situation had delayed metalling work on the old Hindustan–Tibet Road, the crucial highway connecting the apple-producing belt of Shimla and hydroelectric project areas of Kinnaur.
Hearing a public interest litigation titled “Court on its Own Motion versus State of Himachal Pradesh and Others” on May 21, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi expressed serious concern over the recurring delay in repair and restoration of the road, which has suffered extensive damage over the past few years. The matter has now been listed for next hearing on July 1 and the court directed officials concerned to remain personally present before the bench.
The court was informed through an affidavit filed by Engineer-in-Chief (Projects), Himachal Pradesh PWD, that the Hindustan-Tibet road stretch between kilometer 153/180 and 208/700, maintained by the National Highway wing of HPPWD with partial funding from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), had been extensively damaged due to heavy monsoon seasons in 2023 and 2025. The affidavit further stated that the entire stretch from Dhalli to Narkanda had been surfaced with bituminous concrete between 2021 and 2024.
The High Court also took note of admissions made in the affidavit that contractors M/s Ganpati Traders and M/s DCC Buildcon Private Limited, responsible for maintenance during the defect liability period, had failed to execute repair works adequately despite contractual obligations extending up to 2027 and 2026 respectively. The court noted that only partial repairs were undertaken during 2024 and consequently penalty clauses were invoked and contracts terminated.
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At present, temporary patchwork is being carried out on a 55-kilometre stretch while repair work on another 14-kilometre portion remains incomplete. The authorities justified the delay by stating that bituminous surfacing work was dependent upon favourable weather conditions and that shortage of bitumen owing to the US-Iran war could further delay completion of targeted works.
The Union Government further informed the court that a proposal amounting to Rs 86 crore for strengthening the damaged stretch had been submitted to the Regional Officer of MoRTH, Shimla, on March 28 and subsequently followed up on May 18. Counsel appearing for the Union Government submitted that after sanction of funds by MoRTH, tenders would be floated and work awarded following technical and financial evaluation, while the State PWD would maintain the road in motorable condition in the meantime.
In sharp observations, the High Court questioned the functioning of the departments and observed that the affidavits failed to disclose how much payment had been made to contractors during the defect liability period and what penalties had been imposed upon them for failing to maintain the “premium highway.” The bench directed authorities to file a fresh affidavit detailing accountability and financial aspects of the contracts.
The court further remarked that the ongoing patchwork would “barely suffice during the rainy season” and observed that even if funds were sanctioned immediately, actual metalling work would commence only before the monsoon and would again be suspended during the rainy season, restarting only after September 2026. In a stern observation, the bench stated, “it is a standard practice of this department to start work just before the start of the rains and pass on the responsibilities to the weather conditions.”
The High Court also cautioned authorities to ensure there was no “misappropriation of funds” likely to be received from the Union Government and signalled stricter judicial monitoring of road infrastructure works in the state.
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