Baddi-Nalagarh road crumbles after rain, traffic chaos returns
Situation grim at the entry point of Baddi, where rainwater has turned into a large pool
Riddled with deep fissures and crater-like potholes, the vital Baddi-Nalagarh highway has turned into a virtual quagmire after heavy rain lashed the region over the past 24 hours. What was once a key arterial road has now been reduced to stretches of stagnant, muddy water, causing severe inconvenience to thousands of daily commuters and industrial traffic.
The situation is particularly grim at the entry point of Baddi, where rainwater has collected into a large pool, forcing vehicles to crawl through slush and broken surfaces. The dilapidated condition of the road, pending completion for the past seven months, has resulted in long traffic snarls and near-paralysis on a highway that serves as the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s industrial hub, home to over 90 per cent of the state’s industries.
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The problem has been exacerbated by what commuters describe as substandard repair work carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as part of the four-laning project. Recent showers washed away poorly laid interlocking tiles, leaving sharp cut stones exposed on the carriageway. Vehicles navigating these stretches have suffered significant wear and tear, adding to the frustration of motorists.
Muck dumped along the roadside for repair purposes has turned into slush after the rains, making conditions especially hazardous for two-wheeler riders. Several riders reported skidding while negotiating slippery patches, raising serious safety concerns. Drivers, meanwhile, faced a harrowing ordeal as they attempted to manoeuvre through narrow diversions to avoid water-filled potholes.
“I took nearly 90 minutes to cover just 16 km from Nalagarh to Baddi,” said Aditya, a Nalagarh resident. “With the highway completely choked, I was forced to take a longer detour through an arterial route to reach my destination.”
The ongoing chaos reflects administrative apathy, residents allege. Gujarat-based Patel Infrastructure Limited, the original contractor, abandoned the project midway in June 2025. Since then, the NHAI has failed to award the remaining work to a new contractor, despite repeated assurances. Tenders for the balance work have already been postponed seven times, with February 13 now fixed as the next bid date.
However, uncertainty looms large as the NHAI is yet to secure financial approval for Rs 670 crore, an amount assessed in November 2025 to complete the remaining work. The half-finished 34.5-km corridor — 17.37 km in Himachal Pradesh and the rest in Haryana — carries over 20,000 vehicles daily and remains under immense strain. Of the Rs 774.78 crore spent so far, Rs 305 crore has gone into land acquisition and Rs 469 crore into construction, leaving commuters wondering how much longer they must endure this daily ordeal.
