Palampur-Padhar stretch: NHAI reopens bids for consultant for upgrade

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has invited fresh bids for a consultant to upgrade the Palampur-Padhar section of the Pathankot-Mandi highway to a four-lane road. Initially, project reports had been prepared for a two-lane highway, but the project stalled for three years due to changes in alignment and road width requirements.

Following the election of a new state government in Himachal Pradesh in December 2022, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu objected to the two-lane plan, citing the state’s heavy tourist traffic and advocating for four-lane highways.

After discussions with Union Minister of Shipping and Transport Nitin Gadkari, the NHAI was directed to prepare a new project plan. This shift delayed the project for almost two years, as NHAI awaited approval for a fresh consultant appointment, expected to take an additional six months.

Once the consultant is appointed, a new detailed project report (DPR) will be developed, initiating land acquisition — a process projected to take another year. Under current circumstances, construction on the Palampur-Padhar stretch is unlikely to begin before 2026.

Meanwhile, the four-laning of other segments of the Pathankot-Mandi highway is advancing. The Pathankot-Palampur section is on track for completion within the next two years, while the Environment Ministry has cleared the Padhar-Bijni (Mandi) segment, which has already been awarded to a private contractor. However, progress on the 60-kilometer Palampur-Padhar stretch, linking Kangra and Mandi districts, has been minimal.

Originally envisioned as a two-lane road, the Pathankot-Mandi project was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari in 2016. This strategic highway links Pathankot with Leh-Ladakh and other key northern regions.