Himachal: BJP, Congress trade blame over crumbling roads

The Baddi-Barotiwala industrial belt witnessed high political drama today as both the BJP and Congress held separate protests over the deplorable condition of state and centrally maintained roads. What began as public outrage soon turned into a political slugfest, with both sides blaming each other for the worsening infrastructure.

In Baddi, Congress supporters led by Doon MLA Ramkumar Chawdhary burned effigies of officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), accusing them of neglecting the four-lane stretch. Around 60 locals gathered at Red Light Chowk under the leadership of Barotiwala Panchayat up-pradhan Hitendra Sonu, Bhatoli Kalan’s Billu Khan, former Municipal Corporation president Surjit Choudhary, Councillors Rahul Agarwal, Raman Kaushal and Numberdar Charandas.

Chawdhary alleged that the Centre was treating Himachal Pradesh like a “stepchild,” saying key central projects had either stalled or slowed down. He pointed out that the four-lane construction, initially pegged at Rs 469 crore and later revised to Rs 557 crore, had seen no tangible progress in a month.

Accusing the authorities of irregularities, he demanded a CBI probe, claiming that tenders worth Rs 10 crore for repairs “smacked of foul play.” The MLA warned that if the NHAI failed to repair the road by Diwali, party workers would lock down the NHAI’s Shimla office and prevent officials from leaving.

Meanwhile, the BJP too hit the streets. Led by former MLA Paramjeet Pammi, party workers at Barotiwala burnt an effigy of the state government for ignoring the plight of residents suffering due to damaged link and rural roads. BJP leaders said the ruling party had shown little sensitivity toward the hardships faced by commuters and industrial workers, accusing it of "criminal negligence" toward the state's road network — the very lifeline of the hills.