Plan to change alignment of Pathankot-Mandi highway 4-lane work opposed

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, June 25

Residents of Baijnath, Paprola and Joginder Nagar have strongly opposed the recent proposal of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to change the alignment of the proposed Pathankot-Mandi four-lane highway project.

The NHAI plans to change 60 per cent of the alignment of the 208-km-long Pathankot-Mandi four-lane highway between Malan and Padhar on a 130-km stretch bypassing important towns like Palampur, Maranda, Baijnath and Jogindernagar.

Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that the new proposed four-lane stretch would be 7-10 km away from these towns — which has caused widespread resentment in the area. Earlier, it was planned that the NHAI would use the old highway and construct bypasses at Baijnath, Paprola and Joginder Nagar.

However, under the new alignment, there is no proposal to construct bypass in these towns and its residents would continue to use the old stretch of Pathankot-Mandi NH, which is not only narrow but also accident-prone.

Kishori Lal, former MLA of Baijnath, said the recent decision to change the alignment of the highway had come as a major setback to the twin towns of Paprola and Baijnath which have been daily facing frequent traffic jams. He said the NHAI should review its decision.

Ashish Butail, MLA, Palampur, said the old stretch of the highway should be used by the NHAI where adequate land was available and it would save crores of rupees of the Union Government.

The Pathankot-Mandi highway was taken over by the NHAI for the upgrade four years ago but there is no sign of improvement. The NHAI has even failed to acquire about 30 per cent of the land for the new project in the past four years.

NHAI’s proposal

• The proposed Pathankot-Mandi four-lane stretch would be 7-10 km away from Baijnath, Paprola and Jogindernagar — which has caused resentment.
• Earlier, it was planned that the NHAI would use the old highway and construct bypasses at these towns.