After the monsoon season, the number of pilgrims visiting Badrinath has begun to rise as the weather clears. However, debris from landslides along the Badrinath highway is creating challenges for these pilgrims. Despite the favorable weather, the National Highways Authority (NH) seems unmotivated to clear the debris.
Recognizing the issues faced by both pilgrims and local residents, the district administration summoned NHIDCL officials to devise an action plan for addressing the landslide zones.
During the monsoon, landslides at over a dozen locations on the Badrinath highway—from Kameda, the entrance to Chamoli district, to Badrinath Dham—disrupted travel. The repeated falling debris obstructed the highway throughout the rainy season. Now that the monsoon has passed, the NH has not prioritized making the road safe by removing the debris.
As a result, debris continues to accumulate at sites such as Kameda, Chatwapipal, Nandprayag, Parthadip, Pagalnala, Chhinka, Patalganga, and Jogidhara. Passenger vehicles must navigate through these obstacles, leading to frequent traffic jams.
With the number of travelers increasing daily, the current condition of the highway is sending a negative message to passengers. Local residents point out that now that the weather has cleared, the NH Authority had ample opportunity to remove the debris, yet they only focus on maintaining a single line of traffic. The district administration is also aware of the issues faced by passengers.
The administration has expressed frustration with NHIDCL’s handling of the highway during the monsoon and the insufficient resources allocated for its clearance. The District Magistrate has convened a meeting with NHIDCL and BRO officials, urging them to create an action plan for treating the landslide zones. They have also directed the removal of debris to ensure safe passage.
Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari stated, “The administration is serious about addressing the landslide areas and debris that emerged during the monsoon on the Badrinath Highway. We have issued immediate instructions to NHIDCL to clear the debris and develop a permanent action plan for these landslide zones. We have also held a meeting with the relevant construction agencies and NH officials.”