Himachal: Slope protection work started on Parwanoo-Solan road
Himachal Pradesh: The much-awaited work to prevent erosion of vulnerable hill slopes on the Parwanoo–Solan section of NH-5 has begun. With the monsoon over, the NHAI is now focusing on slope protection measures. The hill slopes on this 39-km-long road section suffered extensive damage during the monsoon last year. A 70-metre hillock at Chakki Mor in Solan district had eroded, closing the highway for several days. As against the normal rainfall of 76.6 mm, the state had received 249.6 mm rainfall from July 1 to 11 in 2023 and cloudbursts had occurred in areas around the highway, leading to flooding and massive landslides.
Anand Dahiya, Project Director, NHAI, Shimla, said that slope protection work has finally begun near the tunnel on Barog bypass, where a 50-metre stretch is being repaired. Various engineering techniques like shotcrete and mesh will be used to protect the hill slopes. He said the work, which began on September 15, is in its initial stages and will gain momentum in the next few weeks. Jammu-based SRM Contractors Ltd has been awarded the contract for slope protection work on the 39-km-long Parwanoo-Solan section of the highway at a cost of Rs 1.45 crore.
26 important locations have been identified, including Chakki Mor, Datiar, tunnel near Barog bypass, Sanawara. The Parwanoo-Solan highway section was widened to four lanes in April 2021, but the need for slope protection work was felt after the hills suffered heavy damage year after year. Stabilisation work was carried out on a mere 1.5 metre to 3 metre area on the slopes, which was dug vertically up to 20 metres to 30 metres. This made the slopes vulnerable to erosion due to seepage of water during the monsoon. The detailed project report prepared for widening the highway has failed to address the problem of slope protection. Private company GR Infraprojects has implemented the project to widen this highway section at a cost of Rs 748 crore.
