States » North » DIEPosted at: Jan 13 2026 6:29PM Himachal HC restrains release of payments to contractor in Hamirpur–Mandi highway PILsShimla, Jan 13 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently restrained the release of payments to a private contractor engaged in the widening of the NHAI project after the firm failed to appear before the court, despite repeated opportunities.A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, passed the interim direction while hearing two connected public interest litigations—CWPIL(No. 99 of 2025) filed by Himachal Kisan Sabha and others, and CWPIL No. 104 of 2025—raising serious concerns over the execution of the highway widening project between Hamirpur and Mandi.The petitions pertain to the widening of the existing 124-km stretch to two-lane Hamirpur–Mandi highway standards. As per the Detailed Project Report, widening work is proposed over nearly 110 km, with land acquisition planned for about 104 km across six tehsils—Hamirpur, Bhoranj, Sarkaghat, Dharampur, Kotli and Mandi—affecting as many as 97 villages.Please log in to get detailed story.Tags: #Himachal HC restrains release of payments to contractor in Hamirpur–Mandi highway PILs