Bilaspur Railway Tunnel Blasting Sparks House Cracks, Court Seeks Official Response
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued notices to railway and state authorities following concerns over structural damage to homes in Bilaspur district allegedly caused by tunnelling for the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri railway project. Residents of villages near the tunnel site have reported deep cracks in homes and are demanding immediate resettlement and rehabilitation. With tunnel excavation occurring just metres from residential structures, locals have launched continuous protests, raising questions over construction practices and safety compliance.
The 63-km Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri broad-gauge railway project, connecting Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, is now under judicial scrutiny following allegations of unscientific tunnelling methods damaging nearby homes. A public interest litigation filed by a concerned citizen claims that blasting and excavation work near Bilaspur’s Nog, Bamta, and Kallar panchayats has led to major fissures in at least 20 homes, threatening the safety of vulnerable residents. Several houses lie just 10 metres from the tunnel site, raising red flags over project alignment and proximity to populated areas. A senior railway official noted that the tunnelling is part of a national infrastructure plan aimed at improving regional connectivity, but did not comment on the damage claims. However, residents allege that no pre-construction assessments or structural impact surveys were shared with affected communities. While construction continues, a “chain hunger strike” led by affected villagers has been ongoing since June 1 near the tunnel entrance in Badhiyad village.
Residents have accused authorities of failing to provide compensation, alternative housing, or even safety audits since the damages began surfacing. Despite repeated complaints, they claim the response from agencies overseeing the railway project has been dismissive. The petition before the Himachal Pradesh High Court urges an immediate halt to the tunnelling, acquisition of affected properties, and resettlement as per corporate responsibility and rehabilitation guidelines. Experts suggest that infrastructure projects near settlements should be backed by geotechnical studies and public consultations to minimise such risks. The situation is especially dire for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families who lack the means to repair or vacate their damaged homes. Villagers stress that they are not opposed to development but want basic safeguards. With legal notice now issued, the court has directed respondents—including national and state railway authorities—to reply within four weeks, marking the start of formal legal scrutiny into the project’s social and environmental impact.
The ongoing railway project in Bilaspur, while intended to boost connectivity and regional development, now faces growing scrutiny over its execution and human impact. As fissures in homes near the tunnel raise serious safety concerns, the demand for transparent rehabilitation and scientific project planning becomes urgent. The High Court’s intervention could set a precedent for how infrastructure projects address community welfare in ecologically sensitive or inhabited zones. With legal proceedings underway and protests intensifying, authorities are now under pressure to balance developmental goals with the protection of vulnerable rural populations living on the frontlines of rapid construction.
