Traffic closed for 5 hours, commuters suffer
Munish Sood
MANDI: Cracks have appeared in another pillar of the Dwada flyover on the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane highway, sparking outrage over the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) handling of the project.
The incident comes barely weeks after cracks were first detected in another pillar of the same flyover.
What was once projected as a lifeline for smooth travel between Mandi and Kullu has now become a symbol of crumbling infrastructure. Earlier this month, another pillar developed cracks, forcing partial traffic suspensions. Now, with a second pillar showing signs of damage, questions are being raised about the very quality of construction, monitoring and accountability within the NHAI.
Local residents say they are losing faith in the safety of the flyover, pointing out that heavy rainfall, construction negligence and unchecked debris accumulation are weakening the very foundations of the structure. “How can two pillars of a newly constructed flyover show cracks within weeks? This is not nature’s fury alone but failed planning and supervision,” remarked a resident.
Traffic halted, normal life thrown out of gear
The authorities have ordered a five-hour complete traffic closure on the Mandi-Kullu highway via Dwada from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm on Saturday (September 20, 2025), extending the original two-and-a-half-hour plan due to the seriousness of the cracks and the complexity of debris removal. Expert teams found that large boulders and muck piled up behind the pillar were exerting dangerous pressure, forcing urgent repair work.
The repeated closures have severely disrupted travel in the region, affecting locals, tourists and the transport of essential goods. Business owners and commuters alike are demanding immediate answers and long-term solutions rather than temporary patchwork.
NHAI and government response
Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the state administration and the police have been involved in inspections and emergency response.
• In mid-September, the Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Ajay Tamta, visited the disaster-hit areas to assess damage, including at Dwada Flyover, assuring residents that remedial measures would be taken.
• Connectivity disruptions have been severe. After a closure for 21 consecutive days due to flood damage, parts of the Kiratpur-Manali highway were only partially reopened for one-way traffic. Yet many roads in Mandi and Kullu remain blocked, highlighting the fragile state of Himachal’s road infrastructure.
