Kumarhatti junction a traffic bottleneck

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 9

The Kumarhatti junction, if not widened, will continue to see congestion caused by vehicular traffic plying on five roads that converge there. The junction has been reduced to 32-metre wide when the Parwanoo-Solan section of the National Highway-5 is being widened to four-lanes.

A carriageway of 45 m is being constructed for almost the entire stretch of the 39-km Parwanoo-Solan National Highway, which is being widened.

Several concerns are being raised by the locals regarding this junction, which include the possibility of accidents due to congestion owing to the growing local traffic. Vehicles from Dharampur, Dagshai, Barog and Nahan will have to ply through the Kumarhatti junction if no slip roads are provided. Apple-laden multi-axle trucks, which ply from the Sultanpur-Nahan road, will also face problems while turning at the junction due to the lack of space. It is a fast developing commercial centre due to the presence of several educational institutes in its vicinity.

“The presence of a medical and an engineering college and five universities in its precincts has led to rapid development of the Kumarhatti area besides a multiple increase in traffic. Multi-axle apple-laden trucks will add to the congestion as no slip roads have been constructed to connect local roads with the flyover till now,” said Vikas, a local resident.

The four-laning, which had begun in September 2015, was supposed to be completed within 30 months. The project, however, has taken more than 60 months. As much as 93 per cent work has been completed and officials of GR Infraprojects are hopeful of completing it by June.

The locals are also apprehensive whether parking lots or a bus stop will be provided for the Kumarhatti junction.

“The absence of wayside amenities is also a cause of concern as the junction does not even provide adequate space to cross the road,” said Anand, a local.

KC Chaman, Deputy Commissioner, Solan, said the Kumarhatti junction faced the heavy inflow of traffic in view of educational institutes around it.

“Though the flyover will decongest the traffic plying from other states, the problem of local traffic will continue to plague the junction unless more land is acquired.

Entering the Dagshai road from the highway is fraught with risk given the lack of space,” the DC added.

“It is not only a bifurcation point for the Nahan highway but also a meeting point of roads from Dagshai, Barog and Dharampur. Officials have been asked to submit a revised land acquisition plan around this junction to construct slip roads, wayside amenities and parking lots as the present width is inadequate to accommodate the local traffic during peak hours,” Chaman added.