The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh announced on Sunday, June 7, 2026, that productive discussions have taken place with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the construction of a 4-lane highway from Dhali to Rampur. The proposal has been formally included in the survey process, with tunnel construction to be prioritised as a key component of the project. The official post stated: 'Dhali se Rampur tak 4-lane rajmarg nirman ko lekar sadak parivahan aur rajmarg mantri Shri Nitin Gadkari ji se sakaratmak charcha ho chuki hai' ('Positive discussions have taken place with Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the construction of a 4-lane highway from Dhali to Rampur'). The statement added that the proposal has been included in the survey and that tunnel construction will be given priority in the project.

Context

Dhali, located near Shimla, and Rampur in Shimla district are currently connected by narrow stretches of National Highway 5, a corridor historically vulnerable to landslides and seasonal disruptions. The terrain between the two points is among the most challenging in Himachal Pradesh, making all-weather road connectivity a longstanding demand of residents, traders, and tourism operators in the region. The emphasis on tunnel construction in the proposal directly addresses the geological and weather-related constraints that have long plagued this stretch.

Policy Backdrop

The proposal fits within the broader framework of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, launched in 2015, which identified multiple Himachal Pradesh corridors for 4-laning and tunnel development to reduce travel time and improve year-round access. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had previously announced upgrades for the Shimla-Rampur and Kinnaur connectivity stretches under its annual National Highway programmes during 2018-19. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the central agency responsible for conducting surveys, preparing detailed project reports (DPRs), and executing such projects in Himalayan states. Minister Gadkari has overseen a significant expansion of the national highway network since 2014, with tunnel-heavy alignments becoming a signature approach in states like Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

Stakeholders and Impact

The proposed corridor would benefit a wide range of stakeholders. Hill residents along the Dhali-Rampur belt would gain faster, safer access to Shimla and onward destinations. Commercial transporters carrying horticulture produce — a backbone of Himachal Pradesh's rural economy — would see reduced transit times and lower risk of weather-related delays. Tourism operators servicing the Kinnaur and Rampur belts stand to benefit from improved road infrastructure that can handle higher traffic volumes. The prioritisation of tunnels signals an intent to build a route that remains operational even during the monsoon and winter months, when existing NH stretches frequently close.

What's Next

The immediate next step is the completion of the ongoing survey, after which a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would need to be prepared and submitted to the Union Road Ministry. Budget allocation in the ministry's annual plan would follow before construction can begin. The state government's early engagement with Minister Gadkari and the formal inclusion of the proposal in the survey process mark the project's transition from a political demand to an active planning exercise. How quickly the DPR is finalised and whether the project secures a dedicated allocation in the central road ministry's pipeline will determine the timeline for ground-level work on this strategically important Himalayan corridor.