The Meghalaya High Court has directed the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to obtain reports from hill experts or IIT Guwahati before undertaking road construction in the state’s hilly areas, citing risks linked to slope stability and hill cutting.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh issued the direction while hearing a petition related to construction of the Shillong-Dawki Road. The court also ordered scientific studies before hills are cut, with the stated aim of reducing tree felling and ensuring that road works in vulnerable terrain are carried out safely.
According to the report carried by Times of India, IIT Guwahati had submitted a preliminary vulnerability assessment and was conducting a joint site inspection from September 28 to 30. The inspection was intended to identify critical and highly vulnerable locations. Timelines for a detailed investigation and remedial measures were to be finalised during the state visit.
The court’s directions followed concerns over damage to structures and the treatment of slopes along the Shillong-Dawki Road. A joint inspection by IIT Guwahati and NHIDCL had already been carried out, after which a fresh assessment placed the repair or reconstruction cost at Rs 90.84 lakh. The earlier estimate had been Rs 1.70 crore. NHIDCL told the court that the assessed amount would be deposited with the concerned authorities to facilitate the work.
Deputy solicitor general of India N Mozika, appearing for NHIDCL, told the bench that the Shillong-Dawki Road was operational round the clock. He also said that the landslide-affected stretch and a village road had been repaired and were open to traffic.
The bench referred to a report by hill expert D Gharpure, which identified inadequate right-of-way provisions, unstable slopes, steep cutting, insufficient surface and subsurface drainage, and failure to follow techniques such as top-down cutting and benching. The report warned that these shortcomings could cause serious damage and loss of life.
It further stated that slope mitigation in geologically challenging hill regions required specialised expertise. For locations identified as vulnerable, the report recommended that vulnerability assessments and detailed project reports be prepared by expert agencies rather than by general road consultants.
The directions place scientific assessment before hill cutting and require the concerned road agencies to account for terrain-specific risks during project planning and execution. The court ordered that a copy of its order be sent to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHIDCL, NHAI, the Meghalaya chief secretary and the principal secretary of the Public Works Department, among other authorities.
The matter has been posted for October 13, when the court is expected to consider the progress of the assessments, remedial measures and compliance with its directions.