Union Minister calls officials “culprits” as highway gets washed away in monsoon rains
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has severely criticized engineers and officials over the poor construction quality of the Manali-Kullu four-lane project in Himachal Pradesh, which cost ₹3,500 crore but gets completely washed away every monsoon season.
Speaking at an event in Delhi, Gadkari used strong words to describe the project’s failure, calling the engineers responsible for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) “culprits.” He highlighted how the expensive four-lane highway suffers extensive damage during every rainy season despite its massive cost.
“Many officials retire and then start their own companies. These people prepare DPRs sitting at home using Google without conducting any detailed field studies,” Gadkari said, pointing to the lack of proper ground assessment before project implementation.
The Union Minister painted a grim picture of the annual cycle of destruction, stating that roads break every year during monsoons in the mountainous region. “There are mountains on both sides, a river in between, and people living along the riverbanks. Every year there are landslides during rains. Every year people die. Now we’re not finding a solution to this.”
Gadkari also criticized government officials for their approach to project approval, calling many of them “blind” to the technical realities. “Many DPRs are prepared without detailed studies, and our government officials act blindly, immediately issuing tenders based on such reports. Many ministers, poor fellows, don’t understand these technical matters.”
The Minister revealed how large companies influence tender conditions, with technical and financial qualifications being added to tenders at their behest. He urged engineers present at the event to ensure better DPR preparation and suggested focusing on tunneling technology to avoid risking lives in mountainous areas.
State minister also battles NHAI
The criticism comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face recurring problems with the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane project, which has caused increased devastation each year since its construction. The four-lane highway often gets submerged in the Beas river before it’s even fully completed.
The state’s Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh has also opened a front against NHAI officials due to similar issues with road projects across different regions of Himachal Pradesh. These highway projects have put numerous houses in danger zones, creating widespread public concern about NHAI’s construction methodology.
The ongoing criticism highlights systemic issues in highway construction planning and execution in mountainous terrain, where geographical challenges require specialized engineering solutions rather than standard approaches used in plains.
