Bhuntar-Manikaran road to get Rs 78-crore makeover

During the quarterly meeting of the Zila Parishad held on Friday, the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) informed members that a detailed project report (DPR) worth Rs 78.15 crore for upgrading the Bhuntar-Manikaran road to a double-lane has been submitted to the Centre for approval. The project will commence once approval is granted.

Residents have long expressed frustration over the deplorable condition of the 35-km-long Bhuntar-Manikaran road. Despite being officially designated as a metalled road, much of its surface is riddled with potholes, making it difficult to distinguish between the remnants of the road and the craters that now dominate it. The road’s narrow width and numerous bottlenecks worsen the situation, leading to prolonged traffic jams, particularly during the peak tourist season.

Over the decades, plans to improve the road’s condition have lingered without substantial progress. Although road widening and improvements were incorporated into the Bharat Mala project in March 2017, the initiative never moved beyond political assurances.

The meeting, chaired by Zila Parishad president Pankaj Parmar, was attended by Additional District Magistrate Ashwani Kumar, who was specially present to address issues raised by members. Various questions and concerns regarding roads, water supply, electricity, health and education were discussed during the session.

The ADM emphasised the importance of Zila Parishad meetings as a crucial component of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, playing a vital role in addressing public grievances within a democratic framework. He urged department heads to ensure their attendance at these meetings for better coordination and comprehensive responses to members’ queries.

Zila Parishad member Puran Thakur inquired about compensation owed to residents who suffered damages to their houses and other assets during the 2023 disaster, as well as pending compensation from a power project. Members Gulab Thakur, Asha Thakur and Meena Thakur also raised issues concerning their respective areas.

Himachal Tribune