Drain work leads to traffic chaos on Kangra roads

lit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 17

Road and drain construction being carried out by the PWD in the peak traffic hours in Dharamsala and Kangra results in chaos on the road.

Mukesh Kumar, a shopkeeper, said JCB machines started digging along the road during the peak hours that was leading to traffic jams. Though the police were trying its best to regulate the traffic, it was not possible as one side of the two-lane road was blocked by JCB machine and muck.

Shopkeepers of Kangra are alleging that it is the festive season when they expect brisk business. However, due to traffic jams, the people are avoiding Kangra. It is adversely affecting the business, they allege.

Yesterday, the main road to Dharamsala was blocked as the contractors were laying bitumen on the road in the afternoon. The recarpeting was also going on in the Kotwali market in afternoon when the maximum people were out for shopping for Karva Chauth.

Satish Sharma, a shopkeeper from Kotwali, said since the recarpeting was being done in front of shops, no customer could enter these. This was causing a loss to business.

“We don’t know why the government is recarpeting the road that is already in good condition. It should have been done in morning or evening hours,” he said.

Sources said roads in and around Dharamsala were being tarred in a hurry by the PWD due to the coming investor meet in the city.

Kangra DC Rakesh Prajapati said keeping in view the problems being faced by traders, the PWD authorities had been directed to carry out tarring work in off hours.