{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Over 150 Lives Lost in 19 Years on Rajasthan's Desuri Ki Nal as ₹2,000 Crore Elevated Skyway Stays Stalled",
  "summary": "Connecting Rajasthan's Marwar and Mewar regions, the treacherous Desuri Ki Nal pass has claimed more than 150 lives over the last 19 years. A proposed ₹2,000 crore, 9-kilometer elevated skyway project remains tied up in administrative files due to technical revisions.",
  "content": "The notorious Desuri Ki Nal pass, connecting the Marwar and Mewar regions in Rajasthan, remains a dangerous stretch for commuters and motorists. Winding through the rugged terrain of the Aravalli hills, this narrow mountain road continues to pose severe fatal risks almost two decades after one of the state's most harrowing road disasters. While a proposed ₹2,000 crore elevated road project holds the key to safe travel, the initiative remains caught in bureaucratic procedures and technical revisions of its Detailed Project Report (DPR).\n\nThe 2007 Disaster and a Trail of Over 150 Deaths\nThe deadly reputation of Desuri Ki Nal stems prominently from September 7, 2007, a tragedy that left an indelible mark on Rajasthan. On that evening, an overloaded truck carrying Ramdevra pilgrims lost control and plunged into a deep gorge along the pass. The catastrophic accident claimed the lives of over 86 pilgrims. The sheer scale of the tragedy devastated surrounding communities, forcing the village of Shemal to perform mass cremations for 30 victims, including many children, on a single funeral pyre. Families across Shemal, Madri Devasthan, and Bhawa villages were destroyed in a matter of moments.\n\nRecalling the horror of that evening, eyewitness Dinesh recalled how the government hospital in Rajsamand ran out of space to store the bodies. While rescuers were pulling out a 6-to-7-year-old child trapped underneath the wreckage of the fallen truck, the child's body split into two parts. Children who were orphaned on that fateful day have now grown into adults, yet the hazardous conditions at Desuri Ki Nal remain unchanged. Over the past 19 years, more than 150 individuals have lost their lives in subsequent accidents along these dangerous turns.\n\nGeographical Hazards and Structural Deficiencies\nLocated on the border of Pali and Rajsamand districts, the route presents severe engineering and traffic management challenges. The pass features steep downhill gradients, sharp blind curves, and severely restricted sightlines, making it nearly impossible for drivers to anticipate oncoming vehicles. Geographically, the road is sandwiched between a deep river gorge on one side and towering vertical cliffs of the Aravalli range on the other. This constrained terrain leaves virtually no space for conventional road widening or expansion.\n\nAdding to the natural terrain challenges is the severely dilapidated condition of the existing road infrastructure. The drainage system along the route is broken, causing rainwater to overflow onto the asphalt during monsoon seasons, leading to rapid pavement erosion. Broken road surfaces and potholes further compromise vehicle traction, dramatically increasing the risk of brake failures and vehicular rollovers. Consequently, local police and transport authorities have formally designated the stretch as a high-risk danger zone.\n\nThe Proposed ₹2,000 Crore Skyway and Current Status\nTo eliminate the hazards permanently, engineers designed a proposed 9-kilometer elevated skyway project estimated to cost around ₹2,000 crore. The plan envisions constructing an elevated road supported by single-pillar structures erected along the riverbed side. This specific design aims to minimize forest land acquisition and prevent large-scale deforestation in the sensitive Aravalli ecological zone. The proposed elevated corridor spans between kilometer 281/500 and kilometer 290/00 on the former State Highway 16 (SH-16).\n\nThis skyway is part of a broader proposal submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways covering the entire 83-kilometer corridor between Pali and Charbhuja, budgeted between ₹1,800 crore and ₹2,000 crore. Pali Member of Parliament PP Chaudhary confirmed that the DPR for the comprehensive highway project, including the Desuri Ki Nal elevated bypass, has been drafted and submitted for central approval.\n\nProviding an update on the administrative process, Anju Chaudhary, Superintending Engineer at the Rajasthan State Road Development and Construction Corporation (RSRDC), clarified that certain technical objections were raised regarding the initial DPR for the Desuri-Charbhuja elevated road. Technical teams are currently modifying the engineering plans to resolve these objections before resubmitting the proposal for final approval and allocation of funds.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe construction and eventual opening of the proposed elevated skyway at Desuri Ki Nal will significantly enhance road safety and regional connectivity across Rajasthan.\n\n• Across India: Transport efficiency and safety between major commercial hubs in Rajasthan will improve substantially. Reduced accident risks will streamline interstate freight movement passing through these corridors.\n• In Pali and Rajsamand: Local commuters and residents will gain a safe, reliable transit route free from deadly blind spots. Access to regional healthcare facilities in Rajsamand and Pali will become faster and safer during emergencies.\n• For Commercial Drivers: Heavy vehicle operators will no longer face severe risks of rollover or brake failure on steep mountain slopes. Transit times and fuel consumption across the Aravalli pass will decrease noticeably.\n• For Environmental Conservation: The single-pillar design ensures minimal impact on the fragile ecosystem of the Aravalli hills. Forest clearance requirements and tree cutting will be kept to an absolute minimum.\n\nWhy this happened\nSevere geographical constraints and pending technical revisions are the main reasons behind the frequent accidents and delayed infrastructure work at Desuri Ki Nal.\n\n• Treacherous Terrain: Flanked by deep gorges on one side and steep cliffs on the other, the narrow mountain pass suffers from steep gradients and sharp blind curves that impair driver visibility.\n• Technical Objections in DPR: The detailed project report prepared by RSRDC faced technical objections during review. Engineering modifications are currently underway, delaying final administrative clearances.\n• Environmental Limits: Traditional road widening is impossible without massive deforestation and slope destabilization. Engineers had to design a specialized 9-km single-pole elevated highway to protect forest land.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. What happened at Desuri Ki Nal on September 7, 2007?\nOn September 7, 2007, an overloaded truck carrying Ramdevra pilgrims plunged into a gorge at Desuri Ki Nal, killing more than 86 people.\n\n2. How many fatalities have occurred at Desuri Ki Nal over the last 19 years?\nMore than 150 people have lost their lives in various road accidents on this dangerous stretch over the past 19 years.\n\n3. What is the estimated cost of the proposed elevated skyway project?\nThe proposed 9-kilometer elevated skyway project has an estimated cost of around ₹2,000 crore.\n\n4. Where exactly is the elevated road planned to be constructed?\nThe construction is planned between kilometer 281/500 and kilometer 290/00 along the former State Highway 16 (SH-16).\n\n5. Why is the elevated road project currently delayed?\nThe Detailed Project Report (DPR) faced certain technical objections during review, and engineers are currently modifying the plans to resolve them.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/rajasthan-ke-desuri-ki-nal-marg-par-19-saalon-me-gain-150-se-adhik-jaanen-2000-crore-ka-elevated-project-ab-bhi-atka-32899",
  "category": "Rajasthan",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-17",
  "tags": [
    "Desuri Ki Nal",
    "Pali News",
    "Rajasthan Road Safety",
    "Elevated Road Project",
    "Rajsamand",
    "PP Chaudhary",
    "RSRDC"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}