Gangotri highway faces erosion as Bhagirathi breaches safety wall

Time of India

26-06-2025

Uttarkashi: Gangotri national highway -- a vital route for the Char Dham pilgrimage and national security since it connects border areas -- is under threat from rapid erosion near Sonagad in Uttarkashi district.
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A 16-metre stretch of a newly built safety wall has been washed away by the surging Bhagirathi river, raising serious concerns about stability of the narrow highway as the monsoon season approaches.
Located roughly 60 km from the district headquarters, the Sonagad stretch has long been prone to erosion. In preparation for this year's yatra, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed a concrete safety wall to protect the area.
However, the recent rise in river flow compromised the structure within a month. Although traffic remains unaffected for now, further erosion could disrupt access to Gangotri Dham and hamper military logistics along the China border.
Authorities have been urged to expedite long-term protective measures before the situation worsens.
BRO commander Vivek Srivastava explained that the erosion has been aggravated by an old water-diversion channel built for the now-defunct Loharinag-Pala hydropower project.
"This channel is directing the river towards the highway, intensifying erosion. While temporary repairs are underway, we have proposed constructing a more durable RCC (reinforced cement concrete) wall after the monsoon," he said.
Experts said that the abandoned Loharinag-Pala project is the root cause. Launched in 2005 and halted in 2010, it left behind altered river flows and partially dug tunnels that continue to destabilise the area.
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"The river's natural flow was diverted by NTPC, and even after the project was scrapped, it was never fully restored," said a senior geologist, warning of the area's geological sensitivity.
Residents have expressed strong concerns about negligence and are demanding that the unfinished project be revisited or rectified. "The safety wall built just a month ago has already collapsed. This is clearly a result of substandard work and must be investigated.
With the Char Dham yatra ongoing and monsoon approaching, urgent steps must be taken to protect this critical route," said Shailendra Matura, president of the hotel association, Uttarkashi.
Uttarkashi: Gangotri national highway -- a vital route for the Char Dham pilgrimage and national security since it connects border areas -- is under threat from rapid erosion near Sonagad in Uttarkashi district. A 16-metre stretch of a newly built safety wall has been washed away by the surging Bhagirathi river, raising serious concerns about stability of the narrow highway as the monsoon season approaches.
Located roughly 60 km from the district headquarters, the Sonagad stretch has long been prone to erosion. In preparation for this year's yatra, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructed a concrete safety wall to protect the area. However, the recent rise in river flow compromised the structure within a month. Although traffic remains unaffected for now, further erosion could disrupt access to Gangotri Dham and hamper military logistics along the China border.
Authorities have been urged to expedite long-term protective measures before the situation worsens.
BRO commander Vivek Srivastava explained that the erosion has been aggravated by an old water-diversion channel built for the now-defunct Loharinag-Pala hydropower project. "This channel is directing the river towards the highway, intensifying erosion. While temporary repairs are underway, we have proposed constructing a more durable RCC (reinforced cement concrete) wall after the monsoon," he said.
Experts said that the abandoned Loharinag-Pala project is the root cause. Launched in 2005 and halted in 2010, it left behind altered river flows and partially dug tunnels that continue to destabilise the area. "The river's natural flow was diverted by NTPC, and even after the project was scrapped, it was never fully restored," said a senior geologist, warning of the area's geological sensitivity.
Residents have expressed strong concerns about negligence and are demanding that the unfinished project be revisited or rectified. "The safety wall built just a month ago has already collapsed. This is clearly a result of substandard work and must be investigated. With the Char Dham yatra ongoing and monsoon approaching, urgent steps must be taken to protect this critical route," said Shailendra Matura, president of the hotel association, Uttarkashi.