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CPI(M) Demands Immediate Halt to NHAI Twin-Tunnel Work Amid Shimla Building Cracks
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News18•23-09-2026, 17:00
CPI(M) Demands Immediate Halt to NHAI Twin-Tunnel Work Amid Shimla Building Cracks
- •The CPI(M) in Himachal Pradesh has called for an immediate halt to the NHAI's twin-tunnel construction in Shimla due to severe cracks appearing in buildings in Shanti Vihar ward and Bhattakufar.
- •CPI(M) state secretary Sanjay Chauhan demanded a comprehensive "Vulnerability Assessment" of the affected area before any further decisions on the four-laning project.
- •The party alleges that NHAI and the construction company are proceeding with the work in an "arbitrary, unscientific and illegal" manner, causing damage to over 10-12 houses with widening cracks.
- •More than 300 buildings and 3,500-4,000 residents could be affected by the tunnels beneath densely populated Bhattakufar and Shanti Vihar wards, potentially leading to a housing crisis.
- •The CPI(M) questioned the change in the project's alignment, claiming it was done without legal procedures, public hearings, or consultations with affected residents, despite the ecological sensitivity of Himachal Pradesh.
Key Questions Answered
The CPI(M) has demanded a halt to the construction because multiple buildings in Shanti Vihar ward and Bhattakufar have developed widening cracks due to the ongoing twin-tunnel project.
The CPI(M) estimates that more than 300 buildings could be impacted beneath the densely populated wards, potentially affecting around 3,500 to 4,000 people including residents and local businesses.
The original survey involved a direct road connection from Bhattakufar to Dhalli with land already acquired, but the NHAI later changed the alignment to construct twin tunnels beneath Bhattakufar and Shanti Vihar without public consultation.