Slope protection work on to enhance commuter safety on Solan highway

Commuters will enjoy smoother travel on the Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat section of the National Highway (NH)-105 as the slope protection work to address the issue of landslides is underway. This crucial highway, linking Shimla to Chandigarh, Delhi and other neighbouring states, plays a vital role in regional connectivity.

The slope protection work began in September 2024 on the Parwanoo-Solan stretch of the NH-5 and has now been extended to the other section of the highway, where the road widening work is in the advanced stage.

“The slope protection work has recently started on the 22.91-km Solan-Kaithlighat section, with 28 sites identified for the project. The task has been assigned to Dehradun-based Bharat Construction (India) Private Limited, with a budget of Rs 100 crore,” said Anand Dahiya, NHAI Project Director, Shimla.

“All 28 locations are situated on the hillside. Once the project is completed in the stipulated 18 months, landslides will not disrupt traffic during the monsoon season. Priority will be given to critical locations near Kairibungalow and Hotel Utopia, with work expected to finish by the end of April, ensuring smoother travel,” Dahiya added.

Advanced engineering techniques such as shotcrete, netting, and hydroseeding will be used to stabilise the slopes.

Jammu-based SRM Contractors Limited is handling the slope protection on the 39-km Parwanoo-Solan section. This stretch has 42 critical spots, including Chakki Mor, Datiyar, a tunnel near the Barog bypass and Sanawara, with 40 of them located on the hillside and only two in the valley. About 16 per cent of the work has already been completed.

After the project is finished, both companies will maintain the highways for the next 10 years under a defect liability period, ensuring their upkeep during that time.

The four-lane widening of the Parwanoo-Solan highway was completed in April 2021, but the need for slope protection became apparent as the hills sustained significant damage each year. Previous stabilisation efforts were limited to just 1.5 metres to 3 metres of the slopes, which were vertically excavated to 20 to 30 metres. This left the slopes highly vulnerable to erosion, especially with water seepage during the monsoon.