Baddi-Nalagarh road: NHAI promises median cut for access of villagers

Addressing concerns raised by residents regarding access to the upcoming four-lane Baddi-Nalagarh highway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has assured that a median cut near Khera will be provided to connect villages on both sides of the highway. The issue had also been raised by Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Bawa in the Vidhan Sabha session.

Currently, multiple link roads provide connectivity in the area. One road connects Khokra village to the Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh National Highway, while another connects the industrial area to the highway. A separate road links the Government Senior Secondary School, Khera, to the highway. However, villagers feared that the proposed flyover on the highway would leave them without direct access.

Clarifying the matter, NHAI officials stated that a 796-meter flyover and a vehicular underpass would be constructed near Khera. To ensure smooth connectivity, a median cut will also be built, with its exact location determined after a road safety audit.

Providing details about the project, NHAI officials shared that the Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh section of National Highway 105 spans 31.195 km, of which 13.3 km lies in Haryana and 17.895 km in Himachal Pradesh. So far, only 42 per cent of the project has been completed, including 3.5 km of four-lane road in Himachal Pradesh and 5.44 km in Haryana.

Delays in land acquisition, compensation, tree felling, and utility shifting have significantly slowed progress in Himachal Pradesh. In Haryana, the situation was further complicated as the mining department took nearly a year to grant permission for soil excavation. Additionally, heavy rainfall in July and August 2023 further hindered construction efforts.

The Baddi-Nalagarh highway witnesses heavy industrial traffic, and illegal parking of trucks carrying industrial goods has exacerbated congestion, making construction work more challenging. While traffic police have been deployed to manage the jams, their impact remains limited.

NHAI has directed the contractor to complete the project by the end of this year. Work on the highway began in April 2022 and was originally scheduled for completion by October 2024, within a 30-month timeframe. However, considering the delays, efforts are being made to speed up construction and minimise inconvenience for local residents.