Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh inspected the damaged Subathu-Solan road on Saturday and announced Rs 1.35 crore for its immediate repair. The minister stated that a 3-km stretch of the road will be repaired immediately at a cost of Rs 35 lakh, to be provided through the annual maintenance programme, while Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned under the post-disaster need assessment. Additionally, patchwork on the road at a cost of Rs 24 lakh has already been awarded.
Minister Details Funding and Timeline
Addressing mediapersons in Solan, Singh said a detailed project report of Rs 23 crore has been sent to the Planning Department, and funds will be provided under the next tranche of NABARD. However, with the monsoon season having set in, road repair work has stopped and usually resumes after September 15.
Road Condition Worsens with Monsoon
In the absence of regular repair and maintenance, the Subathu road is badly damaged every time it rains. Gaping fissures have developed on the road surface, increasing wear and tear of vehicles. Driving two-wheelers is fraught with danger, as the dilapidated road has enhanced the risk of accidents.
Local Complaints and Protests
Representatives of various panchayats had given a memorandum to the Solan Deputy Commissioner last week, demanding early repair of the damaged road. Since the road connects various villages, villagers are facing problems transporting their farm produce to markets. The Solan BJP’s urban unit had staged a protest on February 23 to press for early repair. Instead of doing the needful, the PWD merely paid lip service and halted repair work after two days, repeatedly making excuses such as the winter season not being suitable for road construction, unavailability of bitumen, and lack of diesel to operate road construction machines.
“The condition of this road has deteriorated to such an extent that even light showers make it difficult for pedestrians to cross the area. Though it is a crucial route connecting four Assembly constituencies and two districts, the silence of the public representatives and MLAs concerned is unfortunate and shameful,” said Shailender Gupta, president of the BJP’s Solan unit. He added that as the Central Government lifted curbs on the use of diesel for construction work on June 30, the state government should repair the damaged road.
