Work under way to check landslides on the Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat section of the national highway

Commuters will be able to enjoy an unhindered drive on the Parwanoo-Solan-Kaithlighat section of the National Highway (NH)-105 as landslides would be sizeably reduced with the slope protection work under way on this stretch.

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Connecting the state capital of Shimla to Chandigarh, Delhi and other neighbouring states, this highway serves as a significant route for the region.

Work to contain the erosion of vulnerable hilly slopes initially began on the Parwanoo-Solan section of the NH-5 in September 2024. It will cover 42 sites like Chakki Mor, Datiyar, tunnel near the Barog bypass, Sanawara. It has now been extended to the subsequent stretch of this highway where the four-laning work was at an advanced stage.

“The slope protection work has recently begun on the 22.91-km Solan-Kaithlighat section where 28 locations have been identified for the job. Dehradun-based Bharat Construction (India) Private Limited has been entrusted the task at a cost of about Rs 100 crore,” said Anand Dahiya, Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Shimla.

“All 28 sites are located on the hill side. Once the task is accomplished in the stipulated 18 months, no lane would be closed due to landslide during the monsoon. The executing company has been directed to complete the task at two critical locations near Kairibungalow and near hotel Utopia on priority by April-end to pave the way for smoother travel,” informed Dahiya.

Various engineering technologies like shotcrete, netting, hydro seeding, etc. would be used to protect the hilly slopes.

Jammu-based SRM Contractors Limited was executing the work on the 39-km Parwanoo-Solan section of the highway. As many as 42 critical locations, including Chakki Mor, Datiyar, tunnel near the Barog bypass and Sanawara have been identified.

While 40 locations lay on the hill side merely two are located on the valley side. It has already completed about 16 per cent of the work.

A period of 10 years would be invested by both companies after the completion of the project towards its defect liability where they will repair the damage. This will ensure the upkeep of the highways for 10 more years.

The Parwanoo-Solan highway stretch was widened to four lanes in April 2021 but the need for slope protection work was felt after hills suffered colossal damage year after year. The stabilisation work had been undertaken on a mere 1.5 m to 3 m area on the slopes, which were vertically excavated from 20 m to 30 m. This left the slopes vulnerable to erosion owing to water seepage during the monsoon.