Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh high court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure proper drainage management along the Shimla-Kalka national highway ahead of the approaching monsoon season, observing that blocked drains and stagnant water could cause extensive damage to the important highway connecting the hill state’s capital to the plains.The division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi directed the NHAI to take all precautionary measures to ensure that rainwater flowed smoothly through regularly cleaned drains and did not accumulate in the drainage system, which ultimately damaged the stretch.During the hearing, the NHAI informed the court that construction of the Kandaghat bypass in Solan district and a major bridge near Apollo Tyres showroom at Daunsi village was likely to be completed by Nov 2026.The NHAI project director stated that intermittent rainfall since April had adversely affected the execution of bituminous work on the Parwanoo-Solan section of the highway. The NHAI stated that work at Datyar was expected to be completed by May 30, while pending works at Chakki Moud, including installation of reinforced mesh and geosynthetic mats, are likely to be completed by June 30.The court also noted delays in four-laning work near Deventure Hotel and directed the authorities to ensure necessary action against the contractor concerned. The NHAI state that slope protection work at Kumarhada village was forcibly stopped by local residents and despite requests made to the Solan district administration, no assistance has been provided so far.Regarding the Solan-Kaithlighat section near Berkhas village, the court was informed that hill-side slope protection work has been completed, but retaining wall construction on the valley side had not yet been undertaken by the contractor. A show-cause notice has already been issued to the contractor to immediately begin the said work.At Kyarighat and Wakna near Eutopia, muck removal and slope protection works are still underway, with some projects facing obstruction from local residents. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on June 18.
