Stuck in traffic: Baijnath, Paprola residents seek bypass solution

Residents of Baijnath and Paprola towns staged a protest demanding immediate construction of a bypass to ease regular traffic jams on the narrow Pathankot-Mandi National Highway.

The residents said frequent traffic snarls have not only disrupted their daily lives but also hit local businesses. They complained that ambulances, fire tenders and police vehicles often get stuck in long queues, posing risks during emergencies. Tourists and commuters have also suffered, with instances of people missing flights after being stranded on the highway. Congestion is reported daily at Nagrota Bagwan, 53 Mile, Mattor, Baijnath, Paprola, Maranda and Gaggal.

Addressing the media, Baijnath MLA Kishori Lal said the original highway alignment included a bypass, but the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been delaying the project citing changes in alignment. “The state government has already handed over this stretch to the NHAI. It is NHAI’s responsibility to build the bypass. If it cannot, then the state must reclaim the road and construct a bypass from Tashi Jong to the Baijnath railway crossing,” he asserted. The protesting residents urged the government to act swiftly, warning that worsening congestion is making the highway unsafe and inconvenient.

Meanwhile, a senior PWD official clarified that the 219-km Pathankot-Mandi NH was transferred to the NHAI three years ago. “Since the road belongs to NHAI, the state government cannot undertake bypass construction. Any decision will have to be taken at a higher level in consultation with the NHAI,” the official said.