NH work damages part of Mohan Meakin building

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 20

The excavation for the four-laning of the Solan-Kaithlighat section of National Highway-5 has partially damaged an old building belonging to the Mohan Meakin group at Chambaghat. A portion of the double-storey guest house building facing the highway has not only caved in, but also left the remaining building vulnerable to more damage.

Solan SDM Ajay Yadav said, “A portion of the building on a hill has caved in owing to the excavation work. No one was residing in the building when a part of it caved in. It does not fall in the stipulated right of way (RoW), which is the total land area acquired for the construction of the roadway. But the authorities have agreed to pay the cost of its acquisition.”

Since the building housed a VIP suite in its top floor, the company staff wanted to preserve it, said company sources. A large portion of the building had been left vulnerable and more damage could occur as its base had caved in.

The staff of the four-laning company are erecting breast walls after the excavation work at its base. Airef Engineers had initiated work in December 2018 to four-lane the 22.91 km stretch of the highway.