MP Harsh Mahajan Raises Demand for All-Weather Road and Strategic Security Corridor for Pangi Valley
BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan on Friday raised the issue of all-weather road connectivity for Pangi Valley in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted that the valley is home to over 25,000 tribal residents who remain cut off from the rest of the country for nearly eight months every year.
The MP emphasized that poor and seasonal road connectivity severely impacts access to healthcare, education, and other essential services. He said that year-round road access would boost tourism, local employment, and the region’s economy.
Harsh Mahajan proposed upgrading the Chamba–Kilad road to an all-weather highway and constructing the 8.5-kilometer Chenni Pass tunnel as a permanent solution. He added that this would end the valley’s geographical isolation and directly benefit the tribal population. He also underlined the strategic importance of this route for national security.
Currently, NH 154A connects Pathankot to Chamba, with seasonal roads up to Kilad, but an important 52-kilometer link towards Leh is yet to be developed. Once completed, the distance from Pathankot to Leh will reduce from 800 km to about 450 km, and Pathankot to Kargil will decrease from 1,000 km to around 550 km.
Harsh Mahajan urged the central government to declare the Chamba–Kilad–Leh corridor as a strategic defense route and assign its construction and development to the Border Roads Organization (BRO), ensuring both national security and tribal development. He expressed confidence that the project will improve the living standards of residents in border areas and strengthen India’s strategic preparedness.
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