Himachal High Court issues strict warning over dilapidated NH 5 route between Shimla–Rampur, summons senior engineer
In a strong admonishment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has found the submission of the senior engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) unsatisfactory, and ordered him to appear in person for the next hearing. The court’s concern stems from the neglected state of the national highway NH 5 (Shimla-Thickiyog-Rampur) which serves as a vital link in the region.
- The court, in its bench of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jia Lal Bhardwaj, remarked that the engineer’s affidavit appears to misrepresent the actual condition of the highway, including using outdated or misleading photographs.
- It further stated that the claim attributing the non-progress of repair work to heavy snowfall and rainfall between 2023–25 is inconsistent with records, as snowfall in December 2024 was reportedly minimal.
- The bench directed that a detailed estimate for repair work should be finalised immediately and forwarded to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways so that repair can be completed before the onset of winter. It also ordered that a copy of the order be sent to the Chief Secretary for oversight.
- The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for 18 November 2025, where the engineer must present himself personally.
- The court noted that this route — connecting Rampur and beyond into the Kinnaur region — is of strategic importance and yet appears to have been left unchecked by the official in charge.
Significance for the region & tourism link:
The neglect of NH 5 between Shimla and Rampur is not simply a matter of road maintenance—it has broader implications for connectivity, local commerce and tourism in the North Himalayan region. This route is used by locals, tourists and transporters alike, and poor road conditions can hamper access, increase travel time and raise safety risks, especially before winter when landslides and snow are likely. For a tourism-focused portal like northhimalayan.com, highlighting such infrastructure issues helps inform potential visitors about travel conditions and underscores the importance of safe accessible roads in mountain tourism planning.
Take-away for visitors/travelers:
- If you’re planning a trip via the Shimla–Rampur route, keep in mind that repair works are under court-mandated urgency but may still be in progress—allow extra travel time.
- Monitor local traffic advisories or PWD updates for any partial closures, detours or safety warnings.
- Consider alternate routes or destinations if time is tight or weather is unstable, especially as winter approaches.
- Support local tourism responsibly: poor infrastructure often impacts the livelihoods of communities relying on visitor inflows.
