The Gorti-Kanda road in Kasauli has become a virtual death trap after contractors abandoned repair work due to high bitumen costs and lack of timely payment by the state government, leaving roads dug up for pipe laying unrepaired for months.
Contractors Abandon Work Over Costs and Payment Delays
The Sukhi Jori-Sanawar road, which connects Dharampur to Kasauli, has not been repaired after the Jal Shakti Department dug it up to lay pipes about two years ago. The Public Works Department (PWD) allotted the repair work twice in the past four months but could not get the road fixed as contractors were not assured in writing that they would be compensated for the high price of bitumen. Contractors also cited the lack of timely payment as a major hindrance.
Chabal-Gorti-Kanda-Subathu Road Becomes Danger Zone
On the Chabal-Gorti-Kanda-Subathu link road in Kasauli subdivision, a contractor dug up an approximately 100-metre stretch but did not repair it even after resuming work months ago. The situation near the Gorti bridge has become so perilous that the owner of the lone private bus plying on that road was contemplating discontinuing operations due to the risk posed by the dilapidated road. An 80-metre stretch that was vertically dug up has reduced the road to a narrow lane. Without a retaining wall, the crumbling road puts drivers at serious risk as vehicles can plunge into the gorge below.
PWD Assigned Work, Contractor Abandoned Days Later
To repair the road, the PWD assigned the work to a contractor more than three months ago. Though the contractor dug up the road and initiated repairs, he abandoned the work days later in the absence of timely payment. As no repair has been carried out for the past three months, the road is eroding with each passing day. The ongoing monsoon season will further exacerbate the condition of the road, which is a lifeline for several villages like Patta Browari, Kanda, Gorti, and Anji. Villagers use it to commute to their workplaces in Kasauli, Dharampur, and other places.
Students Left Stranded After Bus Service Discontinued
Students of the Industrial Training Institute, Garkhal, and adjoining schools in Sanawar and Dharampur have been left in the lurch after the lone private bus discontinued its operations. Residents questioned why the road was dug up if it could not be repaired in time, adding that it seems the authorities are awaiting a mishap to occur.
Heavy Commercial Vehicles Worsen Road Condition
With several tourism projects coming up in the area, this road is also being used by heavy commercial vehicles to transport construction material like bricks, sand, cut stones, and cement. The plying of heavy vehicles has worsened the situation as the road was not designed to bear heavy load. This road has never received adequate attention from authorities for repairs. It has developed potholes, and motorists have to drive through a muddy stretch as the upper layer of the road has worn out.
