Delay in Palampur-Padhar 4-laning stalls strategic highway project

The widening of the Palampur-Padhar stretch in Mandi district — a crucial part of the strategic Pathankot-Mandi-Leh highway — remains stalled for over four years due to the non-submission of a detailed project report (DPR) by the appointed consultant, as per the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

While construction is actively progressing on other sections of the Pathankot-Palampur four-lane corridor, expected to be completed within a year, the Palampur-Padhar phase continues to hang in limbo. Phase-V construction between Padhar and Bijni (Mandi) is also underway.

Initial plans proposed a two-lane road between Palampur and Mandi. A consultant was appointed, and a project report for the two-lane route was prepared. The former Jai Ram Thakur-led government supported this plan. However, following the change in leadership in December 2022, the current Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, opposed two-lane highways citing heavy traffic, especially during tourist seasons. He met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and urged the upgrade to a four-lane highway.

Responding to this, the NHAI initiated the process of appointing a new consultant for preparing a fresh DPR for the four-lane version. However, nearly two and a half years later, the report has not been submitted. As a result, land acquisition - dependent on the DPR-has not begun, delaying the project significantly.

According to NHAI sources, without the DPR, the land acquisition process cannot proceed. If the report is received within the next two months, land acquisition may begin - but will itself take another 1.5 years. Only after that will global bids be floated, pushing actual construction to at least three years from now.

Additionally, the final alignment of the proposed highway remains under review by higher authorities in New Delhi, further contributing to the delay. Until this alignment is approved, no steps can be taken toward acquiring land or initiating construction.

The delay in this strategically vital stretch is a setback for improving connectivity to Leh via Himachal, impacting both local development and national infrastructure goals.