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Poor quality construction of NH 5: Himachal HC slaps notice to Modi Govt
Shimla, Aug 4
Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to the Narendra Modi government regarding allegations of negligence and substandard construction on the old Hindustan-Tibet National Highway (NH-5) four-lane stretch between Chandigarh and Shimla. The highway has been closed for the past three days due to concerns over its safety.
The court’s division bench, consisting of Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, took notice of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before them. The court expressed serious apprehension about the unscientific excavation of the Shivalik hills, which has led to significant damage to the highway and a tunnel along the state’s four-lane route.
Former Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar also lodged a complaint recently against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the construction company, accusing them of reckless hill cutting that has resulted in loss of lives, extensive damage to vehicles and property, and a substantial disruption of transportation along the highway.
It is important to note that the four-lane highway was closed for traffic on Wednesday after a considerable section of the road collapsed. Over the past three days, the state government has rerouted traffic through alternate roads, as a significant portion of the road, approximately 50 to 100 meters long, has been lost.
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On Friday, another road, the Kasauli-Dharmpur Solan road, also suffered a collapse, leading to the diversion of vehicular traffic via the Nalagarh-Shimla highway and between Solan and Nahan roads.
Multiple highways, including NH-3 and NH-5, have either been washed away or blocked due to landslides and collapses, exacerbated by the recent monsoon rains.
The petitioner in the PIL informed the court that NH-5 had been rendered inaccessible for weeks due to extensive landslides and soil erosion.
The court remarked, “Given the enormity of the issue, we find it appropriate to issue this notice,” directing all concerned parties to provide a complete set of documents to the Deputy Solicitor General of India within three days. The court has scheduled the matter for further deliberation on August 21.
The petitioner alleges in the PIL that the construction of the four-lane highway between Parwanoo and Solan was carried out in an unscientific manner, with vertical hill cutting instead of step cutting, resulting in extensive damage and losses for the state.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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