Bridge of relief turns into bridge of woes at Garkhal

Conceived as a solution to ease the persistent congestion at Garkhal junction on the Dharampur-Kasauli stretch, the cantilever bridge project has ironically become a source of fresh trouble. Instead of providing relief, its construction has worsened the plight of an already rain-battered road, leaving motorists and locals anxious.

Excavation work carried out for building an abutment has triggered visible cracks on the Garkhal-Kasauli road. With the surface now fragile and prone to further sinking, fears of the road caving in loom large if the damage continues unchecked.

Taking a serious note of the colossal damage, the Public Works Department (PWD) has raised objections with the private contractor handling the project. In a strongly worded communication to VK Gupta & Associates, Executive Engineer (PWD, Kasauli) Gurminder Rana flagged how reckless excavation on the valley side has made the road dangerously unstable.

Rana further pointed out that the contractor never sought PWD’s permission for the digging, an act that violates Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Road Infrastructure Protection Act, 2002. Instead of acknowledging responsibility, the contractor attempted to shift the burden, writing to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Kasauli, to intervene. The PWD has called this move “irresponsible behaviour,” reflecting the negligent manner in which the project is being executed.

The Garkhal-Dharampur road is no ordinary road. As the lone link connecting the popular hill station of Kasauli, it has always been known for its durability and has served traffic well for decades. No prior damage was reported at this very spot. But the careless excavation has now turned it into a bottleneck.

Traffic snarls stretching over a kilometre up to Kimmughat have become routine, with a section of the road slowly sinking along the valley side and narrowing the carriageway.

The situation worsens during monsoons. Water seepage has been aggravating cracks daily, leaving motorists at constant risk. Makeshift measures like covering the slope with tarpaulin sheets have failed to contain the damage. Even public toilets built by the local panchayat at the site have become unsafe due to the shifting ground.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Another nearby stretch, the Garkhal–Gahi road, has met with a similar fate and awaits urgent repair.

The PWD has now directed the contractor to restore the damaged section immediately, warning that laxity could sever a vital lifeline to Kasauli. The Himachal Pradesh Road & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, which assigned the bridge project to the private firm, has also been informed of the urgency. Along with the police and the Deputy Commissioner, the authorities have been urged to take swift corrective action before the region’s only dependable access road to Kasauli suffers irreversible loss.