No repair, maintenance work for a decade, Kumarhatti-Dagshai road in a shambles

The Kumarhatti-Dagshai road has faced neglect for a very long time. It is now crumbling as its condition worsens during rain.

This road connects several villages like Anech to the Kalka-Shimla highway. It has not been properly repaired or maintained for nearly a decade. The only work executed on the road this year was to fill potholes with loose earth, worsening its condition. The about 3.5-km road starting from the Kumarhatti market falls under the purview of the defence authorities, which use an arterial route from Dosarka to reach the highway while the residents of Dagshai and nearby villages like Anech and children usually use this road to travel to their workplaces and schools. The defence authorities sometimes use it but, overall, it serves little purpose for them.

In the absence of even necessary repair, this road has eroded at several stretches along the valley side and its width has also reduced considerably. This is posing problems for motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders. As a result, vehicles plying on this road undergo more wear and tear.

While regular funds are granted for repair of the Dagshai-Dosarka road, the Kumarhatti-Dagshai road has been receiving a step-motherly treatment. In the absence of maintenance, water from drains seeps onto the road surface, causing it more damage.

Rajesh Sharma, a trader who travels on it to visit Kumarhatti from a nearby village, says, “This road should be handed over to the Public Works Department so that it can be repaired as it is not important for the defence authorities.”