Carry out repair of Baddi-Nalagarh highway or face stir: Transporters

Irked over its pathetic condition, transport unions and Nalagarh investors have given an ultimatum to the authorities demanding repair of the Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh National Highway-105 within 10 days or else they will launch an agitation.

Considered the lifeline of this industrial area, motorists are forced to drive on the roads, whose condition has worsened due to the ongoing rains. Driving on the 16-km stretch from Baddi to Nalagarh is troublesome because of deep potholes at several places. This bumpy stretches lead to traffic jams extending to hours on this under- construction highway.

After every fresh shower, the road turns muddy. It takes time ranging from one-and-a-half hours to two hours to reach Nalagarh from Baddi, a distance of mere 16 kms.

Locals and transport unions rue that both the state government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is executing the four-laning, are silent on the plight of roads. They have been left to fend for themselves despite paying crores of rupees in taxes.

The distraught truck, taxi and bus unions have issued a warning that the road be repaired within 10 days or they will be forced to launch an agitation, including a hunger strike. The Nalagarh Industries Association has also given a memorandum through the SDM, Nalagarh, to union minister of Road and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari in this regard.

Jitender Thakur, president of Nalagarh Truck Operators Union, while decrying the deplorable condition of the road, said that accidents have become happening on the roads. They were incurring losses due to frequent breakdown of their vehicles. Echoing similar sentiments, Bus Operators Union president Manoj Rana stated that their vehicles were developing mechanical defects while plying on this substandard highway. Their business has been adversely hit and demanded that the government should act immediately.

Pleading that the road tax be waived till the condition of the road does not improve, taxi union president Baggaram demanded immediate repair of the road. With the private company executing the four- laning work having withdrawn and gone back from the contract and the new tender yet to be awarded, the work on the crucial infrastructural project has come to a standstill.