NHAI Faces Backlash Over Alleged Substandard Flood Protection in Kullu-Manali Region
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is facing severe criticism from residents and business owners in the Kullu and Manali areas of Himachal Pradesh for allegedly executing substandard flood-protection works along the Beas river. This region has experienced major devastation due to flooding in recent years, with significant damage to highways, hotels, and homes.
Allegations of Inferior Construction Materials
Local residents have pointed out that instead of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures, which are considered more durable and effective, the NHAI has installed stone crate walls at several flood-prone stretches along the Beas riverbank. These areas include:
- Raison
- Dohlunalla
- Patlikuhal
- 15 Mile
- 17 Mile
- Bindudhog
- Kalath
- Alu Ground
Gajender Thakur, president of the Federation of Himachal Hotels and Restaurant Association, expressed alarm over this approach. "The NHAI has done a shoddy job," he stated. "It should have built RCC walls along all the flood-prone areas to protect against flooding. Crate walls are comparatively less efficient. It's a temporary measure and offers no real protection against the river during monsoon season." The hotel industry in Manali has suffered huge losses since 2023 due to closures of the Kiratpur-Manali highway, making robust flood protection a critical concern.
Recent Flood Devastation and Ongoing Risks
Over a dozen highway stretches between Kullu and Manali, along with numerous hotels and houses, were swept away in unprecedented floods in 2023 and 2025. The Beas river caused massive devastation in almost identical areas, such as Raison, Camping Site, 15 Mile, Bindudhog, and Manali, during both years. Despite this, solid and permanent flood protection measures remain largely absent.
In Dohlunala near Raison, where a highway stretch was damaged by a flooded Beas last monsoon, the NHAI installed a crate wall. However, this wall, along with a patch of the repaired highway, recently caved in due to rainfall. Bhubaneshwar Thakur, a resident of Dohlunala village, warned, "If this highway caves in during simple rain, just imagine what will happen in monsoon when the Beas level starts increasing? If the NHAI thinks that crate walls can protect us from a flooded Beas, it is sheer ignorance."
Similarly, in Raison, where the entire highway stretch was damaged and a hotel narrowly escaped being swept away twice in 2023 and 2025, the NHAI has used crate walls. Nihal Negi, a resident of Raison, criticized this as "not flood protection but just an eyewash."
Unrepaired Infrastructure and Landslide Threats
Many stretches of the highway between Aut and Pandoh in the Mandi district, damaged by landslides, river floods, and flash floods, are yet to be metalled. These sections were only temporarily repaired last year after the monsoon. Additionally, the flyover in Dwara and the exit of a tunnel at Jhalogi, damaged by landslides last monsoon, still await repair by the NHAI.
In response to these concerns, a senior NHAI official stated that major works, including flood and landslide protection, have been initiated along the Kiratpur-Manali highway prior to the coming monsoon to ensure minimal disruption from natural disasters. "The implementation of these measures will bring significant and long-term benefits to the region, such as reliable and uninterrupted all-weather connectivity between Mandi, Kullu, and Manali. The risks of landslides, falling boulders, and road washouts would be reduced, and safety enhanced," the official said.
Landslide Stabilization Efforts in Bilaspur
The NHAI has also initiated work to stabilize landslide-prone zones in the Bilaspur district along the Kiratpur-Manali highway. Currently, work is underway at Thapna between tunnels No. 1 and 2, one of the worst landslide zones on this highway. An official explained that all hanging boulders and land mass are being safely removed to lessen the threat of landslides.
This area has seen tragic incidents, including on September 5, 2024, when a tourist from Madhya Pradesh died and three others were injured after their car was hit by boulders. In July 2025, a woman was critically injured when a boulder fell on her car at the same spot, highlighting the urgent need for effective safety measures.
