Shimla, June 6: Nearly 21 months after the four-laning of the Parwanoo-Solan stretch of national highway (NH-22) has begun, strengthening of three alternative roads to decongest the NH, while the four-laning work being executed, is yet to be completed. While the link road work was assigned to be finished within 30 months, 21 months had lapsed.
The objective of developing these roads was to ease traffic congestion on the NH and facilitate its smooth widening. The purpose, however, appears to be defeated as traffic snarls were creating hassles for commuters and work.
The NHAI had granted Rs 18 crore for three roads — 29.4-km Parwanoo-Jangeshu-Kasauli-Dharampur, 13-km Kamli-Bhojnagar and 14-km Chakki-Bhojnagar — which connect the NH-22. The PWD had forwarded this proposal before the NHAI in 2015 when the four-laning work had begun and its sanction was received the same year. The subsequent receipt of funds and tendering process took another year and the work could begin only about five months ago.
Though PWD officials claimed that 55 per cent of the work had been executed, the work on the crucial Parwanoo-Jangeshu road had been halted after 14 km as the contractor had shifted the machinery to another road. Since this road connected Kasauli, its early completion would have facilitated those travelling to the town. The condition of this road had worsened as the state PWD had no funds for its maintenance.
With the rainy season likely to hit the state the next month, little work will be executed for the next four months. Since the traffic inflow has become unmanageable on NH-22, such uncalled for obstructions will defeat the purpose of maintaining such alternative roads.
Executive Engineer, PWD, Kasauli Division, Sandeep Sobti, confirmed that nearly 55 per cent work had been completed. This included 14-km Chakki-Bhojnagar road and 7-km work on the 13-km Kamli-Bhojnagar road. He added that out of the 29.5-km Parwanoo-Jangeshu road, 14-km work had been completed and since the contractor had shifted the machinery to another road, its work would resume later.
Purpose defeated
- The NHAI had granted Rs 18 crore for  29.4-km Parwanoo-Jangeshu-Kasauli-Dharampur, 13-km Kamli-Bhojnagar and 14-km Chakki-Bhojnagar
- The objective of developing these roads was to ease traffic congestion on the NH
- Though PWD officials claim that 55 per cent of the work has been executed, the work on the crucial Parwanoo-Jangeshu road has been halted after 14 km as the contractor has shifted the machinery to another road
- Since this road connects Kasauli, its early completion would have facilitated those travelling to the town.
Source Tribune India
