NH-3 nightmare: Cracks, protests and crushed hopes along Hamirpur stretch

The construction of National Highway-3 (NH-3), a critical artery linking Hamirpur to Mandi, has turned into a source of anguish rather than development for thousands of villagers. Despite the project’s national significance, the alleged indifference and poor execution by the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and its contractor, Gawar Construction Company, have left residents disillusioned and distressed.

Villagers living along the highway corridor have been protesting for months against flawed construction practices and disregard for public grievances. Reports from multiple villages highlight forced land encroachments, diversion of water flows onto private fields and homes and denial of road access—issues that have compounded over time without effective resolution.

Jaswant Singh and Kashmir Singh from Bari Mandir reported that runoff from over 1,500 metres of the road has been diverted into their 100-kanal farmland. “The contractor promised proper culverts, but that was just a verbal assurance,” Singh lamented.

Similarly, Anita Pathania from Rakho village near Dharampur says the water now threatens her house and repeated pleas for redressal have gone unheard. In other areas, residents like Ramesh Kumar and Baldev Singh have been completely cut off from the road or seen their private land absorbed without compensation or due process.

Despite filing complaints and organising protest marches, the affected villagers—numbering over 25,000—have received no substantial support. Officials at every level, including the Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur, the SDM and local tehsildars, have been approached multiple times. Yet the response, locals allege, has ranged from silence to hollow reassurances.

Physical indicators of the project’s poor quality are already visible. The partially completed 7-km stretch has developed cracks, while newly constructed breast and retention walls are falling apart barely a year after construction. The villagers believe this reflects a deep neglect in monitoring, material use, and adherence to safety standards.

Project Director Romi Dhankhar acknowledged public concerns, attributing many issues to defects in the original Detailed Project Report (DPR). He admitted that loose geological strata and sinking hill sections have posed challenges to construction, but assured that corrective action would be taken. “A meeting with local authorities is on the cards to resolve people’s grievances,” Dhankhar said.

However, for the affected families, these promises offer little comfort. With fields submerged, homes exposed to water damage, and access routes cut off, many feel abandoned by the very institutions meant to safeguard their rights during development work.

Himachal Tribune