Implement National Highways On The Ground

Anuj Kumar Acharya

(The writer is based in Baijnath)

Roads are considered to be the lifeline in hilly state Himachal Pradesh besides Pathankot-Jogndernagar and Kalka-Shimla rail lines laid by Britishers about 90 years ago. The industrial activities are still in a nascent stage in Himachal. But tourism is one such medium the development of which will not only boost economy but also open new avenues of employment. Tourists visiting Himachal wants to enjoy tandem flights in Biling as well as to have a close look on hydropower projects running in hill state. But that needs clean, broad and smooth road excess to tourist spots. Air travel is still out of reach for common public in almost entire India and waterways connection is negligible in hill state. Railways is the best medium of transportation for short, medium and long range travel in other parts of India. But here in Himachal it is not widespread. Roads are the only medium here that connects you to your home.

No doubt a long and wide 35,000 kilometres road network has been laid in Himachal, but width, quality of roads, installation of crash barriers and rectification of black spots is still a big issue here. Some roads are so narrow that giving a pass to a coming vehicle tests all your driving skills and courage. Travel on the broken, pot holed roads where on the one hand is harmful for the new vehicle, it also is no less than a tragedy for families who lost their loved ones in road accidents due to poor quality of roads. The union government last year gifted 17 new national highways to Himachal Pradesh. Besides this, four laning of Dharamshala – Shimla and Pathankot – Mandi national highway was also announced. It is hoped and expected that realisation of these announcements on ground will strengthen the road network health in Himachal.

Himachalis have added a considerable number of two wheelers and four wheelers in last one decade. Besides this, with improvement in economic condition of people, the desire for travel to new destinations has also increased among public. Since Jammu and Kashmir is already in turmoil because of terrorism for last four decades, therefore most of tourists from all across the world are heading towards peaceful and serene Himachal Pradesh. And this is why roads are feeling more stress these days in Himachal and traffic jams have become a norm in almost all the parts of hill state. Especially during summers traffic jams are in a rush to create a new record.

The pot holed and narrow roads are also emerging as a reason for road accidents. The departments should also keep informing the public on a timely basis about the progress on ground of announcements made by ministers. We hope that National Highway Authority of India will soon make a ground survey of the progress achieved in newly announced national highways. It is a dream of every Indian to experience journey on wide and beautiful roads like found in foreign countries.

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