NH-7 turns into nightmare stretch in Sirmaur, commuters bear brunt

The National Highway-7, connecting Chandigarh with Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, has deteriorated into a state worse than rural dirt tracks in Sirmaur district. The crucial highway, which links Dehradun, Paonta Sahib, Kala Amb and Chandigarh, has become a major source of distress for commuters over the past five months.

The stretch passing through Sirmaur’s key industrial belt at Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb has turned into a nightmare for drivers. Locals sarcastically remark that it is difficult to tell whether the road is full of potholes or the potholes themselves are the road. From the main barrier at the Himachal-Haryana border up to Sainwala, the surface is riddled with large craters, so numerous that counting them is nearly impossible.

Recent heavy rains have worsened the situation, leaving the potholes waterlogged and further damaging the road. While heavy vehicles face frequent breakdowns and costly repairs, two-wheeler riders are exposed to serious accident risks. At night, when water-filled potholes are invisible, the threat multiplies, turning the highway into a perilous route.

The poor condition of NH-7 has also become a heavy burden for industrial units operating in Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb. Owners and workers alike are suffering from delays, losses and unsafe travel conditions. Local residents have urged the administration to intervene immediately and restore the highway before the situation worsens further.

Despite the grim reality, the authorities responsible for the upkeep of national highways in Sirmaur appear indifferent. Commuters allege that the NH wing has turned a blind eye to the crisis.

Rakesh Khunduja, Executive Engineer of the National Highway Division at Nahan, admitted that the Kala Amb–Sainwala stretch has become severely damaged. He assured that repair work has been ordered and patchwork will soon be carried out to make the road motorable again.