New guidelines aim to tame Himalayan landslides, ensure safer highways

Facing persistent challenges in executing highway widening projects in hilly terrain, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has overhauled its construction guidelines, placing a strong emphasis on safety, scientific planning and stage-wise execution. The revised norms aim to address recurring landslides, cost overruns, litigation and growing confrontation with local communities, particularly in the Himalayan region.

Under the new framework, critical activities such as hill cutting and slope protection will be completed in the first year itself. This marks a clear shift from the existing practice, where vertical slope cutting, now widely acknowledged as unsafe, was undertaken without adequate stabilisation measures. Going forward, hill slopes will be cut in benches or step formations, a method considered far safer and more stable over the long term.

The changes stem from recommendations made by an expert committee that examined long-term remedial measures for landslide-prone areas. The committee underscored the need for improvements at every stage of road development, from planning and project design to execution and monitoring. It stressed that construction agencies must adopt cost-effective yet robust measures to protect communities and infrastructure from the devastating impact of landslides.

The absence of such safeguards has already taken a heavy toll. Damage to water supply schemes, village paths, arable land and private property has triggered a slew of disputes along key highways, including the Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Gumma (NH-707), Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat (NH-5) and Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh (NH-105) corridors in Solan and Sirmaur districts. Apart from delaying projects, these issues have fuelled resentment and mistrust among local residents.

A major concern highlighted by the ministry is the poor quality of detailed project reports (DPRs). Many DPRs fail to provide adequate provisions for slope protection, drainage and stabilisation, resulting in frequent changes in scope during execution. The four-laning of the 61-km Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat stretch is a case in point. Deficiencies in the original DPR forced authorities to award additional tenders worth nearly Rs 200 crore solely for slope protection, pushing up costs and delaying completion.

Experts have also pointed to the neglect of the angle of repose during slope excavation, particularly on the Parwanoo-Solan highway. This oversight has been identified as a key factor behind repeated and massive landslides in the region. The committee has therefore stressed the need to allow sufficient time for time-dependent slope stability, especially in fragile Himalayan geology.

To improve outcomes, the revised guidelines call for a significant upgrade in DPR preparation. Project planning must leverage technological inputs from agencies such as the National Remote Sensing Agency, including geological mapping, satellite imagery and geotechnical data. Investigations should be carried out after the monsoon, when sub-soil conditions are weakest, to ensure realistic assessments of slope stability.

The ministry has also recommended incorporating monitoring and early-warning systems for landslide-prone areas. Such measures could help prevent recurring disasters at vulnerable locations like Chakki Mor, where experts have already identified fault lines. Analysing landslide inventories, slope movement and construction capability will now be mandatory before finalising route alignments.

In a notable departure from past practice, the guidelines encourage evaluating alternatives such as viaducts, bridges and tunnels, along with detailed seismic analysis. Attention will also be paid to tension cracks in crown areas, which often precede landslides. On the Parwanoo-Kandaghat stretch, the later addition of three viaducts significantly increased both time and cost, an outcome the ministry now hopes to avoid through better upfront planning.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has repeatedly blamed faulty DPRs and poor civil engineering for rising road accidents, calling for a complete redefinition of project planning documents. With landslides becoming more frequent and expensive, MoRTH’s revised approach seeks to minimise litigation, curb delays and ensure safer, more sustainable highways in India’s most fragile landscapes.