SHIMLA: Panic has gripped residents in several Shimla localities as cracks have appeared in houses located above the twin tunnels being constructed under the Kathleeghat-Dhalli four-laning project.Residents Raise Alarm Over Tunnel Construction; High-Powered Committee Flags Serious Risks
Residents of Sanjauli, Shanti Vihar and Bhattakufar have raised concerns over ongoing four-lane and tunnel construction, alleging that the work is being carried out in an unscientific, reckless and illegal manner, threatening homes and Shimla’s fragile hill slopes.
The residents apprised the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court of problems arising from the construction. They said cracks had appeared in several nearby houses and warned that continued excavation and tunnelling could cause further structural damage.
During its visit, the committee chairman inspected the affected houses and examined the nature and pattern of the cracks.
The damage reportedly surprised the chairman, who expressed serious concern over the construction company’s work and apprehension that the project could pose a greater future threat to the houses.
Residents urged the committee to ensure that construction proceeds only after proper scientific assessment and safety evaluation, in compliance with applicable norms and with due regard for Shimla’s vulnerable geology and densely populated hill settlements.
The chairman assured them that their grievances and the situation observed during the inspection would be brought before the Supreme Court.
Residents said the issue concerned not only property damage but also the safety of families, homes and Shimla’s long-term stability.
They appealed to all stakeholders to ensure that development does not compromise residents’ safety and security.
The Bhattakufar Councillor Narendra Thakur and former Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan accused National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), its contractor Gawar Construction and the district administration of ignoring mounting risks.
Addressing a press conference, Thakur and Chauhan claimed that more than 500 houses could be directly or indirectly affected by the proposed tunnel alignment, while the actual number of vulnerable structures could be much higher because several buildings are located above and below the tunnel corridor.
They questioned the basis on which the tunnel alignment was allegedly changed and demanded that the government make public the survey and technical reports used to shift the proposed alignment into a densely populated area.
“The question is who conducted the survey, when it was conducted and why the alignment was changed,” they said, alleging that even the NHAI had earlier acknowledged that it was unaware that land had been acquired in the area where the tunnel construction is now being taken up.
The two leaders alleged that residents had repeatedly complained about blasting and construction activity, but authorities failed to take timely action. They cited instances where residents allegedly heard explosions and subsequently found cracks and damage in their houses.
They also questioned the monitoring mechanism of the district administration, asking whether the contractor is required to submit regular reports on blasting, tunnelling and structural safety and, if so, why residents were not informed about the findings.
Chauhan said the issue had become particularly serious because the tunnel alignment passes beneath or close to densely populated areas, with buildings situated on steep slopes above the proposed twin tunnels. He warned that damage to one structure could trigger a chain reaction in adjoining buildings because of the terrain and the steep gradient.
The former Mayor alleged that large culverts and drainage structures had also been constructed in agricultural areas around Chhamauna, affecting farmland, livestock areas and natural drainage, without adequate assessment of the consequences or compensation to affected residents.
The leaders further alleged that the NHAI and contractor had failed to comply with compensation-related directions issued by the courts and authorities in earlier cases involving damage to houses.
Referring to a High Court order dated August 5, they said the court had directed the company and NHAI to deposit compensation in the affected residents’ accounts, but alleged that the payments had still not been made.
They also cited a July 30, 2025 order of the Disaster Management Authority relating to compensation for an affected house and alleged that despite such orders, victims continued to wait for relief.
The speakers said several affected families had been forced to live away from their damaged or declared-unsafe homes for more than a year, while some houses had allegedly been left vulnerable to theft after doors and windows were removed or damaged.
They questioned why residents were not being taken into confidence before carrying out major tunnelling work in a densely populated and geologically sensitive part of Shimla.
Chauhan said the earlier alignment had already resulted in displacement and damage to houses and argued that the existing tunnel should be taken forward only through the previously assessed corridor rather than extending construction into another heavily populated zone.
He warned that the proposed twin-tunnel configuration could have an impact across a much wider belt than the immediate tunnel footprint. According to him, NHAI officials have referred to an affected zone extending up to about 110 metres around the tunnel structures, raising concerns over hundreds of buildings in Shimla and Sanjauli.
Thakur and Chauhan demanded an immediate halt to further work in the disputed stretch until an independent technical and geological assessment is completed.
They also demanded that the government disclose the original and revised surveys, geological reports, alignment-change records, acquisition details, blasting records and safety assessments before allowing further construction.
The two leaders alleged that the project authorities had failed to conduct adequate public consultation before proceeding with the revised alignment and demanded accountability from both NHAI and the contractor.
They also called for compensation to all families whose houses, land, agricultural activity or other property had suffered damage because of the project.
Calling the issue a threat to Shimla rather than a problem confined to one locality, Chauhan urged the state and central governments to intervene immediately.
They demanded that responsibility be fixed for any violation of statutory procedures and said that if illegal construction or procedural violations were established, criminal action, including registration of FIRs, should be considered against those responsible.
The speakers appealed to residents and civil society organisations across Shimla to unite against what they described as unscientific and unsafe construction practices, warning that unchecked tunnelling in a densely populated hill city could have consequences far beyond the immediate project area.
They said development and better road connectivity were necessary, but not at the cost of putting thousands of residents and Shimla’s fragile hill environment at risk.
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