Himachal: Tourist rush exposes civic gaps in McLeodganj

With the onset of the tourist season, McLeodganj near Dharamsala is grappling with serious civic and infrastructure challenges, including damaged roads, overflowing sewerage and an acute shortage of parking, causing inconvenience to both tourists and residents.

Despite being one of the most popular tourist destinations in Himachal, the condition of basic infrastructure paints a grim picture. Key roads leading to McLeodganj, as well as internal stretches, are riddled with potholes, damaged surfaces and incomplete repair works. This has resulted in frequent traffic congestion, longer travel times and an increased risk of accidents, especially during peak tourist inflow.

The Dharamsala-McLeodganj road, considered the lifeline of tourism in the region, is among the worst affected. Commuters face bottlenecks due to narrow stretches, damaged patches and unregulated roadside parking. With a sharp rise in the number of vehicles during the season, the poor condition of roads further aggravates congestion and delays, leaving both tourists and locals frustrated.

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Ashwani Bamba, chairman of the Federation of Himachal Hotel Associations, said the issue had been repeatedly raised with the authorities, but no concrete action had been taken so far. “The Khara-Danda road is in a deplorable condition and a major accident can occur at any time. The lack of such basic facilities creates a negative image of the state among tourists and adversely impacts the tourism industry, leading to loss of employment and revenue,” he said.

Rahul Dhiman, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Smart City Dharamsala-McLeodganj, said he had written to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighting the issue. He said the persistent problem of damaged roads reflected administrative negligence. “McLeodganj is a jewel in the crown of Himachal tourism, attracting visitors from across the globe. However, the present condition of roads shows clear apathy. Potholes, broken surfaces and lack of timely repairs are causing traffic bottlenecks, increasing travel time and posing a high risk of accidents,” he said.

Ashok Sharma, president of the McLeodganj Taxi Union, also expressed concern over the deteriorating road conditions. He said the negligence of the authorities was causing immense trouble not only for local residents but also for tourists visiting the hill station.