Newly laid stretch of Kullu-Manali four-lane washed away: Locals question highway’s strength
A newly laid stretch of the Kullu-Manali four-lane highway near the Raison toll plaza has crumbled after just one spell of rainfall, leaving residents shaken and raising serious doubts about the quality of construction. The road, freshly re-carpeted only three months ago, now lies in ruins. Locals worry—if this fragile stretch couldn’t withstand a shower, what will happen when the monsoon arrives in full force?
This collapse isn’t an isolated case. The 38-km stretch of National Highway-3, built in 2019, has become a symbol of mismanagement. Flashfloods in 2023 tore through large sections, and devastation struck again in 2025, severing Manali’s access for days.
Residents have long alleged substandard work. “We’re paying the price of rushed development,” says a hotelier from Manali. Locals point out broken promises: “Land was acquired for a four-lane highway, but only two lanes were built.”
Others accuse contractors of cutting corners, using mud walls and temporary crates instead of permanent protections along the Beas riverbanks. For locals, the highway isn’t just a road—it’s their lifeline. And right now, that lifeline feels dangerously fragile.
