Shimla: HC takes note of ‘substantial progress’ of work on NH-05

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken note of the status reports and affidavits filed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government regarding the progress of the Parwanoo–Solan–Kaithlighat–Shimla four-laning project on NH-05, and indicated that the toll plaza at Sanwara may be permitted to resume operations from November 12, 2025, provided all pending rectification and maintenance works are completed within the next 10 days.

It was contended in the status report by the NHAI that the toll plaza at km 80.720, Sanwara, has remained closed since September 18, 2025, resulting in a reported revenue loss of Rupees 4.53 crore to the NHAI between September 20 and October 31.

Perusing the fresh status reports, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj noted that although the project faced an overrun of nearly six years beyond the original completion schedule of April 2021, substantial progress had been made in recent months. The NHAI informed the court that rectification work has been carried out at six identified locations and slope protection work is progressing, with the remaining work expected to be completed by March 2026.

The court was also apprised that maintenance work worth Rs 15.20 crore has been awarded for a 12-month period to M/s NH Construction Pvt Ltd and muck removal and drain cleaning are being executed by other private contractor. Regarding the Solan–Kaithlighat section (21.51 km), the NHAI reported completion of 18.988 km, while work on the remaining 2.513 km and the 1.2 km Kandaghat bypass is ongoing with completion projected by June 2026.

The court noted persistent challenges due to local interference at some locations, and directed the district administration to ensure that no hindrance is caused to the slope protection work.

Observing that the condition of the highway had been “in a pitiable state” earlier, the bench acknowledged that “a large extent of rectification” had now been carried out. However, it emphasised that the NHAI must ensure complete clearance of debris, muck, and blocked drains, particularly near Deventure Hotel, Meghdoot Hotel and the Kandaghat approach road to maintain the highway in a “traffic-worthy condition.”

The bench also directed urgent rectification of the Kandaghat market road and instructed the state to deploy adequate police force to prevent obstruction from local shopkeepers during maintenance work. Additionally, the Boileauganj U-turn in Shimla was directed to be blacktopped within 10 days to prevent dust pollution, with the Municipal Corporation, Shimla ordered to coordinate the effort.

The court made it clear that if all repair and maintenance works are completed by November 12, 2025, the NHAI will be permitted to resume toll collection at the Sanwara plaza, subject to modification of the earlier closure order passed on September 18, 2025. The matter has been listed for November 11 for further monitoring of compliance.