Himachal Pradesh High Court Gives NHAI 10 Days To Repair Parwanoo–Shimla Highway; Toll Collection To Remain Suspended Till Work Is Complete

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has granted the State and NHAI a window of 10 days to complete the work of Parwanoo- Shimla Highway, and stated that only if the work is completed, would toll collection be allowed from 12th November, 2025 onwards.The Court issued several directions to ensure timely completion and safe road conditions. It directed the State to assist NHAI in overcoming local obstructions and to provide necessary police force during maintenance activities.A Division Bench of Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj remarked that: “The said persons cannot hold the maintenance at ransom and the State will take necessary steps to ensure that proper force is provided when the maintenance work is being carried out. Efforts shall be made to do it in the early morning or late at night.”Background: Himachal Pradesh High Court had earlier closed the main sanwara toll plaza of Parwanoo-Shimla Highway due to poor road conditions. The case arose in 2017 when a public interest litigation was filed, raising concerns about delay and deterioration in the four-laning project of the Parwanoo Shimla stretch National Highway. The petition has been pending since then, and there have been repeated complaints regarding unsafe road conditions, landslides, poor drainage, and traffic disruptions caused by unending construction activity.The Court observed that the status report shows that the construction was to be completed in 2021. However, the project was delayed and several stretches of the highway were still in a pitiable condition. Thereafter, on September 18, 2025, the Court ordered suspension of toll collection at Sanwara Toll Plaza due to poor road conditions and lack of adequate facilities on the Parwanoo-Shimla Highway. After which, NHAI submitted two status reports, one on 30 October 2025, and another on 4 November 2025, along with photographs regarding repairs and maintenance work on the highway. Upon reviewing the status reports, the Court remarked that its earlier observation was correct as the highway had suffered serious damage and was indeed in a very poor condition, and even the NHAI admitted this by allocating ₹15.20 crore for a year's maintenance.Further, the Court noted that while six majorly affected highways had been repaired, some problems still persisted, like remaining debris, drains, and damaged portions also need to be fixed. Thus, the Court granted a time of 10 days for completion of work, and only then would the collection of tolls be allowed.Case Name: Court on its own motion v/s National Highway Authority of India & Ors. Case No.: CWPIL No.249 of 2017Date of Decision: 04.11.2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

Himachal Pradesh High Court Gives NHAI 10 Days To Repair Parwanoo–Shimla Highway; Toll Collection To Remain Suspended Till Work Is Complete

Mehak Aggarwal

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