Nitin Gadkari tells replies to concerns raised by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Munish Sood
MANDI:
In a major step towards improving safety and reducing travel time on Himachal Pradesh’s key mountain highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in association with engineers from Switzerland, has identified 84 major landslide-prone black spots on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway.
Once the ongoing technical interventions are completed, the travel time between Chandigarh and Manali is expected to come down to nearly 3 to 3.5 hours.
The development was highlighted in Parliament on Thursday when Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari responded to concerns raised over the fragile condition of hill highways in Himachal Pradesh. Gadkari said that advanced global technologies are being deployed to tackle frequent landslides on the Chandigarh-Manali and Chandigarh-Shimla routes, which witness repeated disruptions, particularly during the monsoon.
The issue gained prominence after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised questions in the Lok Sabha regarding the safety of the Chandigarh-Shimla four-lane highway. A frequent traveller on the route and a regular visitor to Shimla, where she owns a house, Priyanka Gandhi flagged the poor design of retaining walls at several locations, stating that inadequate height and weak structures are contributing to recurring landslides.
She urged the Centre to intervene immediately, stressing that the highway is a lifeline for Himachal Pradesh and that repeated slope failures have led to loss of life, property damage and prolonged traffic disruptions over the years.
Responding to the concerns, Gadkari acknowledged that landslides are a serious and recurring problem in the Himalayan terrain. He informed the House that, under a technical collaboration with Switzerland, vulnerable stretches have been scientifically assessed and black spots identified. The focus, he said, is now on constructing tunnels and adopting modern slope-stabilisation methods to ensure safer and faster travel.
The minister also expressed strong displeasure over poor-quality detailed project reports (DPRs) and lapses in execution by implementing agencies, including the NHAI. He directed officials to prepare technically robust DPRs and ensure strict quality control, making it clear that substandard work will not be accepted.
The Chandigarh-Shimla four-lane project has witnessed several major landslides in recent years, especially on the Parwanoo-Shimla stretch. The Himachal Pradesh High Court has also taken cognisance of the issue in the past, pulling up NHAI over unsafe hill cutting, construction delays and alleged violations of environmental norms.
An interesting moment unfolded in the Lok Sabha when, after raising her question, Priyanka Gandhi sought time to meet Gadkari for issues related to her parliamentary constituency Wayanad. The minister promptly responded that she could meet him anytime without a formal appointment. The two leaders later met and discussed road infrastructure concerns, including retaining wall issues on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway.
Priyanka Gandhi’s intervention has once again brought national attention to the pressing need for safer, scientifically planned infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh’s fragile hill terrain, where highways remain crucial for connectivity, tourism and economic activity.
