Traffic tangle: Baijnath, Paprola locals seek bypass construction

With increasing traffic congestion and frequent jams on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway, residents of Baijnath and Paprola towns have raised a strong protest, demanding immediate construction of bypass roads. Locals say they are fed up with the relentless traffic snarls disrupting daily life, commerce and emergency services.

While speaking to The Tribune, several residents expressed frustration over unmet expectations. Initially, when the upgradation of NH-154 into a four-lane highway was planned, it was widely believed that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would construct a bypass to divert traffic away from the densely populated towns.

However, the NHAI altered the alignment, proposing a new route that would avoid Baijnath and Paprola altogether. That revised plan, too, was shelved after technical hurdles forced the cancellation of the broader four-lane project.

Now, with the highway still passing through these busy towns and traffic growing steadily worse, residents are urging the state government to take decisive action. They have demanded that the stretch between Tashi Jong and the Baijnath railway crossing be taken back from the NHAI and a bypass constructed immediately to ease the worsening traffic situation.

Baijnath MLA Kishori Lal echoed public sentiment, calling the situation “grim”. “The Pathankot-Mandi highway has become a major traffic hazard as it runs through the town. A bypass is urgently needed,” he said. The MLA confirmed that he had already raised the matter with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who had directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to prepare a detailed project report (DPR). The aim is to seek funding from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The narrow stretch of the NH has become a bottleneck, especially during peak hours. Locals say the regular gridlocks not only affect businesses but also cause daily hardships for commuters.

“A bypass would significantly reduce traffic pressure in both Baijnath and Paprola, especially from heavy vehicles that cause frequent congestion and pose a threat to pedestrians,” said Kishori Lal, who has continued to push for the project even after his tenure as MLA.

Official sources confirmed that the Pathankot-Mandi NH (totalling 219 km) was transferred to the NHAI in 2018. “As long as the road remains under NHAI, the state government lacks the authority to build a bypass independently,” an official told The Tribune.