Safety Enhancements Planned for Himachal Pradesh Highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is collaborating with Swiss engineers to enhance safety on Himachal Pradesh's highways by identifying 84 landslide-prone areas. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed concerns raised by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra regarding the safety of the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. With advanced technologies being deployed, the travel time between Chandigarh and Manali is expected to decrease significantly. This initiative aims to ensure safer travel and address the recurring issue of landslides that have caused loss of life and property. The focus is on modern construction techniques and strict quality control to improve infrastructure in this fragile region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 20:20 IST

Nitin Gadkari Addresses Concerns Over Highway Safety

Munish Sood
MANDI:
In a significant initiative aimed at enhancing safety and minimizing travel duration on crucial mountain highways in Himachal Pradesh, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with Swiss engineers, has pinpointed 84 critical landslide-prone areas along the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway.

Upon completion of the current technical measures, the journey time between Chandigarh and Manali is anticipated to be reduced to approximately 3 to 3.5 hours.

This development was brought to light in Parliament on Thursday when Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed concerns regarding the precarious state of hill highways in Himachal Pradesh. Gadkari mentioned that cutting-edge global technologies are being utilized to address frequent landslides affecting the Chandigarh-Manali and Chandigarh-Shimla routes, which often face interruptions, especially during the monsoon season.

The issue gained traction after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised inquiries in the Lok Sabha about the safety of the four-lane highway connecting Chandigarh and Shimla. A regular traveler on this route and a frequent visitor to Shimla, where she owns property, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted the inadequate design of retaining walls at various points, noting that insufficient height and weak structures contribute to ongoing landslides.

She urged the central government to take immediate action, emphasizing that the highway serves as a lifeline for Himachal Pradesh and that repeated slope failures have resulted in loss of life, property damage, and extended traffic delays over the years.

In response to these concerns, Gadkari recognized that landslides pose a serious and persistent challenge in the Himalayan region. He informed the House that, through a technical partnership with Switzerland, vulnerable areas have been scientifically evaluated and black spots identified. The current focus is on constructing tunnels and implementing modern slope-stabilization techniques to ensure safer and quicker travel.

The minister also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the poor quality of detailed project reports (DPRs) and execution failures by implementing agencies, including the NHAI. He instructed officials to develop technically sound DPRs and enforce strict quality control, making it clear that subpar work would not be tolerated.

The Chandigarh-Shimla four-lane project has experienced several significant landslides in recent years, particularly along the Parwanoo-Shimla stretch. The Himachal Pradesh High Court has previously taken note of this issue, reprimanding the NHAI for unsafe hill cutting, construction delays, and alleged breaches of environmental regulations.

A noteworthy moment occurred in the Lok Sabha when, after posing her question, Priyanka Gandhi requested time to meet Gadkari regarding issues in her parliamentary constituency of Wayanad. The minister promptly replied that she could meet him at any time without needing a formal appointment. The two leaders subsequently met to discuss road infrastructure issues, including the retaining wall concerns on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway.

Priyanka Gandhi’s intervention has once again highlighted the urgent need for safer, scientifically designed infrastructure in the fragile hill terrain of Himachal Pradesh, where highways are vital for connectivity, tourism, and economic development.