ShimlaParwanoo stretch a nightmare for commuters
The NH witnesses long queues of vehicles, especially from Timber Trail Resorts up to Jabli, where the fourlaning work is in progress
SHIMLA: Tourists flocking the hill town are having a harrowing time due to traffic snarls on the Shimla-Parwanoo national highway.
The road widening project, which is already a year behind its deadline, has increased the traffic problem for commuters, especially on the weekends.
The national highway witnesses long queues of vehicles, particularly on the road stretch between Timber Trail Resorts and Jabli, where the four-laning work is in progress.
The machinery of the company carrying out the work, GR Infrastructures, is pressed into service during the day, leaving the commuters stranded on both sides of the road for hours, making it difficult for patients and children.
“There were long queues on both sides of the road on Saturday, and we were struck in the jam for more than one and a half hours on a five kilometre stretch,” said Ruchi Bhogal, a school teacher who was travelling to Shimla with her family.
There is scarce police patrolling on the road stretch and even the sign boards displaying emergency numbers are missing.
“My parents have health problems and we were stuck in traffic jam for hours. The travel time between Chandigarh and Shimla increases nearly by two to three hours in the present scanario,” said Ankush Chauhan, an orchardist from Kotkhai in Shimla district.
PASSING THE BUCK
The police shifts onus on the company executing the work and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Solan superintendent of police (SP) Madhusudan Sharma said, “We have directed the company officials to adhere to the orders that mention no work will be done during the day.”
On the other hand, the company officials say that its workforce is working in two shifts.
“Visibility is more during the day and hence, we are working round the clock to complete the project, which is already running behind schedule,” said Bhuri Singh, liason officer, GR Infrastructures, adding, “The project has faced many hurdles due to delay in land acquisition and earmarking of dumping sites.”
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The four-lane project on the 90km highway connecting Shimla and Parwanoo, once completed, will reduce travelling time between Shimla and Chandigarh up to two hours. Currently, it takes around three to four hours to reach Chandigarh from Shimla. The project was started in 2016 and the NHAI had set March 2018 as the deadline for completion of work on 39km road stretch between Parwanoo and Solan. The company, however, has now sought 15 months’ extension to complete the project. Widening work is continuing on a 39-km stretch between Parwanoo and Solan. So far, only 55% of the work on the said stretch has been completed.The government has set 36 months’ period (till October 2021) for completion of work.
COST ESCALATION DUE TO DELAY
The NHAI and GR Infrastructures, working on the stretch between Parwanoo and Solan, denied any escalation in the cost of the project due to the delay.
The project cost on this stretch is ₹749 crore while the total cost for the three sections is ₹2,828 crore.
REASONS FOR DELAY
Repeated soil erosions and landslides triggered by rain is one of the main reasons for the delay, company officials allege.
The company also faced problems in constructing the railway overbridge at Kumarhatti.
The work on the road stretch between Solan and Kaithlighat is yet to be started.
The government has acquired land for the third phase of the project between Kaithlighat and Dhalli in Shimla’s periphery. Regional officer, NHAI GS Sangha said, “Project delayed as there were hurdles in land acquisition besides rain causing landslides.”