Kalka-Shimla highway caves in, traffic disrupted

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 26

The movement of vehicular traffic was disrupted on the Kalka-Shimla highway near Datiyar after a portion of the highway along the valley side caved in early this morning.

Onlookers on the site said cracks were visible on the surface as the retaining wall, constructed along the valley, gave way, exposing shoddy construction. The water seepage mechanism erected along the wall failed to sustain and crate wire structures, used to erect the retaining wall, could be seen piled up as they failed to withstand the weight of the road.

About 85 per cent work to four-lane this highway has been completed. The rains cause colossal damage every year exposing shoddy construction. The presence of crate wire structures on the site, which lack the requisite strength, have put a question mark over the quality of work undertaken.

DSP Parwanoo, Yogesh Rolta, who visited the spot, said the valley side of the road was closed for around one-and-a-half hours in the morning as a portion of the highway caved in near Datiyar. One-way traffic was permitted through the hill side later in the day as repair work was being undertaken on the site.

He said the officials of the GR Infraprojects have been directed to identity all vulnerable spots from the Timber Trail Resort to Datiyar and close them in view of the rainy season. He said the staff has also been directed to remain in a state of preparedness and clear the road in case of any eventuality.

With the transportation of apples being in full swing, heavy apple-laden trucks move on this highway during the day and night.