NHAI ignores mishap-prone curve

Rajiv Mahajan

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Nurpur, December 31

A stretch on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway here between Dhakki and Chogan has become accident-prone. But the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has failed either to fix crash barrier or build parapets to avoid any mishap. This stretch has a congested sharp curve and during night the risk of accidents grows.

A number of accidents have been reported when trucks or heavy vehicles skidded off the road and fell into gorges. But the authorities have not taken any corrective measures to check accidents.

Tourists visiting the hill state experience a lot of hardships during nights as there is no parapet or crash barrier on the roadside or no caution signboard has been displayed by the NHAI.

Since this curved stretch is close to residential area, residents are also living under constant fear of accidents of speeding vehicles during nights. There is a demand to erect crash barrier.

The NHAI has not identified it as a black spot despite a number of accidents during the past a few years.

It has spent over Rs 6 crore for the upkeep of the NH from Kandwal to Nurpur but ignored this stretch.

Pradeep Sharma, assistant engineer, NHAI, Nurpur subdivision, said a proposal was submitted to the Revenue Department for the acquisition of government land for widening of this curved stretch.