Signboards installed in middle of Mandi NH threat to commuters

Rajiv Mahajan

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Nurpur, March 16

A number of signboards installed in the middle of the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway at the Kandwal police checkpost and the inter-state border have become a hazard for commuters, especially at night.

These signboards have been put up for publicity by private entrepreneurs. In the absence of any light reflectors, these pose as a threat to the safety of commuters on the gateway of Himachal Pradesh at Kandwal in Nurpur. Inquiries reveal that these signboards have been installed with the permission of the police.

These are seen on the highway immediately before entering the Kandwal barrier-cum-police check post from Pathankot. These boards have made the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway-154 an accident-prone stretch. Besides this highway, a link road is also connected to approach Bhadroya-Damtal from Kandwal barrier. The police have made no proper arrangement on the Kandwal barrier keeping in view the increasing traffic flow.

Commuters visiting Himachal Pradesh from Kandwal have demanded the construction of road divider to make Kandwal an accident-free stretch.

Sahil Arora, DSP, Nurpur, said he would personally take stock of the matter and remove the signboards if these were posing a threat to commuters’safety.