Official correspondence from the Engineer-in-Chief, HPPWD, Shimla, recommends transferring the Sainik Chowk Bhunter-Mohal-Ramshila-Naggar-Manali left bank road (MDR-29) — specifically from km 13/500 to km 52/345 — to the BRO. The proposal cites the recurring destruction of NH-3 during floods, the strategic importance of the corridor and the increasing movement of military and emergency vehicles toward Lahaul and Leh.The document acknowledges that the left bank road became the region’s sole lifeline during the devastating floods of July 2023 and the 2025 monsoon disaster, when multiple stretches of the right-bank NH-3 were washed away. However, heavy military convoys, emergency rescue operations and construction machinery have reportedly damaged the road far beyond the carrying capacity envisioned under state road standards.The proposal has revived uncomfortable questions regarding why successive governments failed to strengthen the route despite decades of recurring disasters. The left bank road historically served as an alternative corridor during major floods in 1988, 1992, 1995, 2023 and 2025.
मुख्य विवरण
Yet, widening and strengthening plans remained trapped in bureaucratic red tape. Residents allege that the authorities only took notice after disasters exposed the vulnerability of the Chandigarh-Manali highway.Even after the massive destruction of the 2025 monsoon, several stretches remained battered for months. Despite nearly Rs 4 crore reportedly being spent on repairs, key portions near Aleo in Manali were reduced to a single muddy lane even nine months later, frustrating commuters and disrupting tourism.Local residents and tourism operators argue that the government is shifting responsibility to the BRO to evade accountability for years of neglect. They point out that despite carrying thousands of vehicles daily as the valley’s emergency escape corridor, the road remained narrow, erosion-prone and poorly maintained.The Baisakhi Sale Plan offers an excellent value of 2 years of subscription + 6 months complimentary.If you proceed with this purchase, your current monthly subscription plan will be immediately cancelled.