Demand to widen Kullu-Manali left bank road gains momentum

In the wake of recurring natural disasters and massive damage to the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway, residents and tourism stakeholders from Kullu and Manali and Lahaul have urged the Central Government to prioritise the widening and maintenance of the left bank road between Kullu and Manali.

Gadkari’s intervention sought

The 40-km left bank road has time and again proven to be a critical alternative route during floods in 1988, 1992, 1995, 2023, and now in 2025. Even today, this road is ensuring smooth transportation of essential supplies to Leh.

Bhuvaneshwar Gaur, Manali Mla

At present serving as the lone functional lifeline for transportation between Kullu, Manali and Lahaul-Spiti, the left bank road is under tremendous pressure as thousands of vehicles ply on it daily. Tourism industry stakeholders have pointed towards the urgent need for widening this narrow stretch to accommodate increased traffic and avoid daily traffic jams.

Manali MLA Bhuvaneshwar Gaur, while addressing mediapersons, said that he had written to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and urged him for immediate intervention. He emphasised that despite the road’s strategic significance, no Central assistance had ever been allocated for its development or maintenance.

“The 40-km left bank road has time and again proven to be a critical alternative option during floods in 1988, 1992, 1995, 2023, and now in 2025,” Gaur said. “Even today, this road is ensuring smooth transportation of essential supplies to Leh and also enabling transportation of Lahaul’s vegetables and Kullu-Manali apples to markets across the country,” he stated.

Despite its importance, Gaur said the road remains single-lane and poorly maintained, leading to frequent traffic snarls and putting enormous pressure on local police and residents who are working day and night to ensure smooth traffic flow.

He also noted that earlier efforts in 1995 under the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and local MLA Raj Krishan Gaur had brought attention to the road’s role during disasters but no long-term action was taken by the Central Government to strengthen and widen the road.

“The residents of villages on the left bank in Manali have shown remarkable patience and cooperation despite the recurring chaos,” Gaur added. “It’s high time the Central Government recognised the importance of this road and provided annual funding for its upkeep. The process for widening it into a double-lane road must be initiated at the earliest.”

Gaur has also urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to appeal to the Union Government for urgent action on the left bank road to prevent future transport crisis in this disaster-prone region.