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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inspected several danger-prone areas along the ongoing 27-km Shoghi-Dhalli four-lane highway project in Shimla. Locals raised concerns over hill-cutting activities by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), blaming them for property damage and increased safety threats. In response, the Chief Minister directed departments to take immediate remedial actions and announced rental assistance and relief packages for affected families. Committees have been set up to identify weak spots and probe incidents such as the building collapse in Bhattakufar.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an inspection of multiple vulnerable locations along the under-construction 27-km Shoghi-Dhalli four-lane highway in Shimla district. The Chief Minister personally visited Bhattakufar, Sanjauli, Dhalli, Lindidhar and adjoining localities, engaging with residents to understand the emerging threats posed by the highway development. Advertisement
Local citizens conveyed to the Chief Minister that hill-cutting operations carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had worsened ground stability, resulting in severe property damage and placing lives at risk. They alleged that NHAI officials had been unresponsive to their repeated appeals, and that they continued to live in fear under precarious conditions.
Reacting to their concerns, Chief Minister Sukhu directed the relevant departments to implement immediate safety measures and prioritise public security. He assured those affected that the State Government would extend comprehensive support. He remarked that for many, building a house was a lifelong investment, and seeing it destroyed was not only a financial blow but also a deep emotional trauma. He further said he would raise these issues directly with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari.
As a part of the relief efforts, the State Government is set to provide INR 10,000 per month as rental assistance to families residing in structures deemed unsafe, enabling them to secure alternative housing. A special relief package is also being readied for those who have suffered damages during the course of the highway development.
Chief Minister Sukhu also advocated for the engagement of local contractors in such large-scale infrastructure projects, stating that they possess a better understanding of the region's topographical challenges. He called upon NHAI to integrate modern technologies and explore tunnel-based options while designing infrastructure through hilly regions to avert further disasters.
To address immediate safety concerns, the Shimla district administration has constituted a 12-member committee led by the Additional District Magistrate (Protocol) to identify at-risk locations along the four-lane stretch and recommend corrective measures. In addition, a separate five-member team chaired by the Additional District Magistrate (Law & Order) has been formed to investigate the recent building collapse in Bhattakufar.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, his Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, and several senior officials during the visit.
The public backlash against NHAI's methods and the urgency shown by the Chief Minister underline the increasing need for sustainable engineering solutions in vulnerable terrains. As the State Government intervenes with compensation and planning reforms, the onus now lies on executing agencies to prioritise safety over speed, and adopt terrain-sensitive designs that reflect both modernity and responsibility.
Source - ANI
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