District admn bans excavation during monsoon on Mandi-Pathankot highway

To ensure the safety of residents and travellers amid the ongoing construction work on the Mandi to Narla four-lane road stretch on Mandi-Pathankot highway in Mandi, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan conducted a joint inspection of vulnerable points along the Drang-Katindi link road and the stretch from Drang to Narla here on Tuesday. During the visit, the DC issued strict directives to halt all excavation work during the rainy season to prevent landslides and ensure the safety of both life and property.

The inspection came in response to rising concern from locals facing difficulties due to road construction activities, especially with the onset of the monsoon season. He further instructed the agencies concerned to promptly install permanent retaining walls (locally known as ‘pakke dange’) at spots where hill cutting has already been carried out.

The inspection team included Executive Land Acquisition Officer Bhawna Verma, NH Site Engineer Amit Kumar, Praveen Kumar from Gawar Construction Company and project director and GM Vikas Nagar.

During the inspection, frequent road blockages were causing major disruptions in traffic, resulting in a lot of inconvenience to commuters and the residents. Expressing strong displeasure over the issue, the DC directed that round-the-clock deployment of machinery must be ensured at all such sensitive locations to deal with any

emergency and avoid traffic jams.

He warned the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that prolonged road closures in the future would result in personal accountability of the officers

concerned.

The DC emphasised that while speeding up the pace of the construction work was important, it must not come at the cost of public safety or compromise on quality standards.

Devgan reiterated that the Mandi to Padhar road segment was a crucial part of the region’s development strategy, but stressed public convenience must remain a top priority during the execution of the project.

Himachal Tribune