Despite shoddy work, Kasauli road to be re-inaugurated today

A poorly maintained Sanawar-Shiller-Pathia-Mandodhar road in Kasauli subdivision is set for inauguration for the second time tomorrow by Kasauli MLA Vinod Sultanpuri, putting a question mark on the working of the Public Works Department (PWD).

A sum of Rs 3.52 crore was incurred on laying the 3.5-km long road. It was funded by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). While a pedestrian path already existed, the road was barely widened and only a few shoddy culverts were laid.

Former Kasauli MLA Dr Rajiv Saizal had laid its foundation stone in October 2020 and the road was inaugurated in 2022 pending its concretisation. In the absence of timely metalling, the road was reduced to a dusty path, which came off in the monsoon season, adding to the woes of the residents of Shiller and Pathia villages, which are connected by this road.

After much wait, a sloppy work was executed recently. The road has developed potholes and water accumulates at several places after every spell of rain. Slush makes it challenging for motorists to navigate the stretch. Such spots even put pedestrians in danger as the road lacks adequate concrete base.

“The contractor entrusted with the task to lay the road had abandoned the project midway, delaying its completion. Another contractor was roped in to complete the concretisation work,” said a PWD officer. Instead of executing quality work, the surface of the road has been metalled in haste with a minimal use of bitumen. Residents of Shiller and Pathia villages, who were keenly awaiting the completion of the road, have been left disheartened. Besides villagers, the road is used by small children to reach school.

The villagers wondered why the road was being inaugurated for the second time as it was incomplete and lacked quality work. “What is the rationale behind inaugurating a road on which vehicles suffer massive wear and tear in the rainy season. One barely sees a layer of bitumen on the road, as whatever tarring was done has worn away leaving patches of mud and potholes behind. The poorly concreted road developed potholes days after the work was completed and patch work was done as a cover-up,” rued Pankaj, a villager.

Even as the Centre and state government set aside funds for providing connectivity to villages that are inhabited largely by population belonging to reserved sections of society, such shoddy work defeats the purpose of schemes intended at improving infrastructure in rural areas.

Himachal Tribune