Sinking stretch at Kather bypass in Solan raises safety alarm

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 12

A 200-metre stretch of the Solan-Shimla National Highway near the Kather bypass, opposite the Police Lines, has been persistently sinking, rendering it unsafe for commuters. The section, overlooking the valley, has become a recurring concern despite multiple restoration attempts by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which had executed the four-laning project.

The nearly 50-metre-high retaining walls along this stretch have begun to deteriorate and heavy rains have only worsened the situation. Residents of Ward No. 17, situated below the highway, are bearing the brunt of the damage. Continuous soil erosion has left their internal roads in disrepair, while vehicle owners complain of severe wear and tear due to the poor road conditions.

Visible cracks along the affected highway portion indicate deep water seepage, a result of the absence of proper drainage and water channelisation. Locals expressed their frustration during the site inspection conducted by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manmohan Sharma, highlighting the growing threat to the roads and homes below.

The DC has directed the NHAI to dismantle the weakened retaining walls and reinforce the link road beneath the highway, raising its level to prevent further subsidence. He also instructed the agency to commission a geological survey by experts to identify the root cause of the recurring sinking and recommend a sustainable solution.

“Instead of resorting to superficial repairs that fail repeatedly, a permanent remedy must be worked out,” the DC stated.

Despite the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s directions to the NHAI for proper repair and maintenance of the Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat-Shimla highway, the Kather bypass continues to remain a chronic problem zone.