The project for four-laning of the Parwanoo–Solan section of NH-22 (re-designated as NH-05) from Km 67.00 to Km 106.139, with a total length of 39 km, is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under NHDP Phase-III on EPC mode in the State of Himachal Pradesh. The highway traverses 33 revenue villages, including major habitations such as Jabli, Dharampur, Kumarhatti, Anji, Solan, and Kather in Solan district, and passes through densely populated and environmentally sensitive hilly terrain. The Completion Certificate for this project was issued w.e.f. 20.12.2023. The corridor is of strategic importance for improving connectivity between Parwanoo, Solan, and the Shimla region, enhancing road safety, reducing travel time, and supporting economic and tourism activity in the State.
The project faced multiple execution challenges relating to land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting, demarcation of land, and disbursement of compensation, which significantly impacted construction progress. A major bottleneck involved the shifting of nine high-voltage transmission towers (132 kV and 66 kV) of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) falling within the proposed right of way. The issue was compounded by the requirement of acquiring land for relocated tower sites and undertaking specialized construction in hilly terrain. Following intervention through the PRAGATI led ecosystem, coordinated action was ensured between NHAI, HPSEBL, the State Government, and the District Administration, leading to timely deposition of shifting costs by NHAI, phased handover of land, and completion of tower relocation works, thereby removing a critical obstruction to highway construction.
Another significant impediment pertained to forest clearance for diversion of 15.1526 hectares of forest land for debris dumping sites under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. While Stage-I approval had been accorded earlier, Stage-II clearance was delayed due to pending Forest Rights Act (FRA) certificates of nine affected villages and procedural pendency at the State level. Consequent to sustained top-level monitoring and inter-departmental coordination, FRA certificates for all villages were issued, and Stage-II forest clearance was accorded on 19.05.2022, enabling operationalisation of dumping sites and uninterrupted continuation of hill-cutting and construction activities.
The project also encountered challenges relating to pending land acquisition and demarcation, particularly over a stretch of approximately 350 metres at Village Rabon, where demarcation disputes and existing structures were obstructing execution. Under the PRAGATI-led governance framework, coordinated action was undertaken by the Revenue Authorities, District Administration, and NHAI, resulting in completion of demarcation, removal of structures after due compensation, and resolution of the issue in January 2022. Additionally, the residual acquisition of 0.9926 hectares of private land in Solan district, which was delaying completion of balance stretches, was closely monitored, leading to completion of acquisition and transfer of land by March 2021.
Further, delays were observed in disbursement of land acquisition compensation amounting to ₹17.97 crore, primarily due to litigation, inheritance-related disputes, non-completion of formalities by beneficiaries, and pending mutations. The matter was taken up under PRAGATI review also, wherein the State Government was directed to expedite beneficiary-level resolution and ensure systematic follow-up by District Collector, Solan. As a result of sustained monitoring, the majority of compensation was disbursed, residual cases were addressed through legal and administrative processes, and the issue was formally resolved in April 2021.
Overall, the PRAGATI-enabled top-level review and monitoring by Project Monitoring Group under the digital governance ecosystem played a decisive role in resolving long-pending inter-departmental and inter-governmental issues affecting the Parwanoo–Solan four-laning project. The intervention ensured effective vertical coordination between the Central Government, State Government, and District Administration, as well as horizontal coordination among line departments and utilities, translating policy direction into time-bound on-ground action. The successful resolution of critical bottlenecks facilitated completion of the project and stands as a demonstrative example of how PRAGATI serves as a force multiplier in expediting complex infrastructure projects in hilly and environmentally sensitive regions.
