Plying of heavy vehicles banned on Dharamsala–McLeodganj road

In view of the growing threat of landslides and sinking soil, the Kangra district administration has banned the movement of heavy motor vehicles on the Dharamsala–McLeodganj bypass road with immediate effect. The alternative Khada-Danda road, which also connects Dharamsala to McLeodganj, has already been declared unsafe for four-wheelers after a portion of it collapsed last week.

The District Magistrate Hemraj Bairwa issued the order on Sunday evening after reports of confirmed subsidence at multiple locations on the bypass, which is a national highway.

The officials of the local police and National Highways Authority of India also warned that the soil beneath the road had turned unstable and might not be able to bear the load of heavy vehicles during spells of heavy rainfall.

The order, issued under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, states that the movement of trucks, trailers and other heavy commercial vehicles on the road will remain restricted from 6 pm on August 17 until further notice, or until the route is declared safe for traffic.

Since the bypass is the only available route for heavy vehicles to reach McLeodganj, the administration has allowed commuters to use light motor vehicles (LMVs) on the restricted stretch as a temporary arrangement for supply of essential commodities.

The District Magistrate has also directed the NHAI to carry out urgent repair and restoration work, citing not only public inconvenience but also the road’s strategic importance from a defence point of view. The McLeodganj town is also the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile and home to the Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama who is currently on a tour to Leh and Ladakh. The administration has warned that any violation of this ban will invite action under the Disaster Management Act and other relevant laws.