SOLAN/SHIMLA: National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has sought a  30-45 days period to fully restore the disrupted four-lane section at Chakki Morh and beyond on the Solan-Parwanoo segment of the critical Kalka-Shimla-Narkanda-Kaurik national highway.

The gravity of the situation compounds as the newly constructed two lanes along the hillside of the Kalka-Shimla fourlane highway have transformed into receptacles for the frequent landslides, fragments of rock, boulders, debris, and even chil  trees and flash floods.

These continue to collapse dangerously from the cut steep hillsides onto these two hill-side lanes of the highway, posing  threat to the movement of traffic.  This is a reason why NHAI has not restored the two lanes at many points for traffic so far.

The reassurances offered by NHAI's Project Director A.K. Dehiya during Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla's on-site inspection of Chakki Morh today  hold a flicker of hope.  ī

NHAI and its construction companies face public scrutiny as the Highways have become hazardous for the movement of traffic due to frequent collapse of walls and landslides even during  normal times.

Dehiya vows to address the vulnerabilities that have rendered the traveling on the landslide-prone hillsides hazardous for commuters as the boulders continue to crumble  from the cut hillside, falling down on the two lanes.

However,  skepticism runs rampant among commuters, who, with good reason, remain wary given the frequent lapses in the structural integrity of retaining walls and the loose strata of the fragile Lower Shiwaliks weak geology that NHAI and its geological wing have failed to plug and take care of 

These breaches launch the cascades of boulders from the towering steep slopes,  jeopardizing safety of both travelers and locals who traverse this national lifeline round the clock.

The recent series of  incessant rains that triggered flash floods cast a spotlight on the glaring quality issues that plague NHAI's projects- both Kalka-Shimla and Kiratpur- Mandi-Manali Fourlane national highways.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court's intervention underscores the gravity of the situation, compelling responses from both the NHAI and the Government of India itself.ī

On the other hand, NHAI plead that they have to cut the hills vertical inclined at an angle of 60 Degree  to 90 degree  on the acquired width of 32 m.  With this, the fragile hill strata on the upper shaky hillside also collapse leading to the snowballing  effect,  which comes down on the road.  

“If we make the grids, we need 63 meter acquired width of land that shoot up the cost of the project by  30 to 40 per cent more and even land acquisition of this width is not easy”, informed  a NHAI’s former manager.    

There could be lapses in quality of work at certain points, but the weak strata, flood water due to incessant rains come from higher hill sides, rendering slopes all the more shaky,  making things only worse, they plead.

But experts  charge that the sudden collapse of a big portion of road as it happened near Solan few months ago raise questions regarding the construction being carried out by the NHAI,  Its construction companies and its subcontractors.

These issues  and alleged kickbacks in the projects have been raised by the Anti-Corruption Forum of Himachal Pradesh at Public platform in Shimla recently,  seeking a probe from a retired Supreme Court Judge to bring the culprits to justice.       

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla's firsthand assessment of the aftermath of a major landslide on NH-05 near Chakki Morh has spurred NHAI into action.

Shukla has issued directives to local authorities and the NHAI, urging them to expedite traffic flow along this highway, particularly during the apple season when produce is ferried to markets outside the state.

The highway is the life line of  daily supplies and facilitating tourist movement to  Shimla and army convoys to the strategic Kinnaur district  and Spiti sub-division along the crucial Indo-China border.

Manmohan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Solan who accompanied the Governor  has placed the extent of Solan district's losses due to incessant rains at a staggering Rs. 526 crore.

As a countermeasure, the state government has embarked on relief efforts and is restoring normal life in Himachal Pradesh since July 15 after the state was battered by a cataclysmic series of cloud bursts, flash floods  from July 8 to July 12.