TNR News Network
Shimla:
In a major relief for thousands of commuters using the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway daily, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered temporary suspension of toll collection at the Sanwara Toll Plaza in Solan from September 20 to October 30.
The decision comes in response to the deteriorating condition of the Parwanoo-Shimla stretch of the highway, which has drawn widespread public criticism.
A division bench of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) highlighting the poor state of the road and the hardships faced by commuters.
Observing that toll was being collected despite the highway being in a severely damaged state, the high court questioned the justification behind the toll charges. It also directed the Solan Deputy Commissioner to provide all necessary support to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for urgent repairs, and to assess law and order concerns arising due to the road’s condition.
10,000 to 15,000 vehicles cross toll barrier daily
Despite earning crores in toll revenue, the Parwanoo-Shimla highway, which sees a daily traffic of 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles, continues to suffer from broken stretches, potholes and frequent landslides.
The high court’s order comes as a welcome move for commuters, many of whom have long complained of unsafe travel conditions, delays and damage to vehicles.
The Public Works Department has also been instructed to immediately begin repair and restoration work from Kaithlighat to Shimla, a section particularly affected by monsoon-triggered damage.
555 roads blocked across state due to landslides
The high court’s intervention comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh is already reeling under severe monsoon-related destruction.
As of Friday morning, 555 roads, including three National Highways, remained blocked across the state due to landslides and flooding. In Shimla, heavy landslides near the Himland area led to the closure of Circular Road and the temporary shutdown of St Edward’s School for two days.
Meanwhile, the state has reported over Rs 4,700 crore in losses and 424 fatalities during this monsoon season alone. The road infrastructure has been among the worst-hit, with thousands of houses, shops and cattle sheds also damaged.
