Accident-prone stretches awaits urgent attention

The Chowari-Chamba via Jot Road, a critical route for Chamba district, continues to face safety concerns as certain stretches await urgent improvement.

Despite being the shortest route connecting Chamba, Bharmour and Tissa to neighbouring Kangra district, a narrow stretch near Neharnala, 9 km from Jot towards the Chowari side, remains hazardous for travellers.

Daily commuters, long-route buses and tourist vehicles heavily rely on this road, especially during major events like the Manimahesh yatra and the Minjar fair. While the Public Works Department (PWD) has maintained most parts of the route, the Neharnala stretch — a 40m segment — is perilously narrow, allowing passage for only one vehicle at a time. The road is narrow and lacks safety measures, making travelling on the road risky.

Local residents Ankit Verma, Abhishek Thakur, Hitesh Bedi, Vijay Sharma, Naveen Thakur, Rajeev Gupta and Praveen Puri have urged the PWD officials to prioritise traveller safety.

“The route experiences heavy traffic, with buses and other vehicles plying on it. During important events such as the Minjar fair and the Manimahesh yatra, the road witnesses a heavy flow of traffic day and night. Even a minor mistake by a driver can result in a fatal accident on the stretch,” said Abhishek Thakur

Locals suggest constructing a retaining wall to prevent potential accidents, as cutting or widening the road could destabilise the large boulders precariously stacked along the hillside.

“Increased vehicular traffic and a rise in accidents underscore the urgency of addressing this issue. The safety of commuters must be the priority," the residents emphasised in their appeal to higher officials.

Immediate intervention of the authorities concerned is required to ensure that this vital link remains safe for the thousands who traverse it daily, they said.

Meanwhile, Executive Engineer, Chowari, Narinder Chaudhary, said the work was already under way to widen and improve the Chamba-Jot road. Funds have also been approved to put in place safety measures on some portions and the work would be undertaken soon.