Life disrupted due to Shimla four lane construction
Jagran correspondent, Shimla. Due to the ongoing four lane construction work under NHAI in Chalunthi area of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, local citizens are facing serious loss of life, property damage and traffic chaos.
Frequent incidents include ground subsidence, cracks in houses, evacuation of houses and damage to roads, due to which there is an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the area.
Bharatiya Janata Party Himachal Pradesh state media in-charge Karan Nanda has written a letter to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding this serious issue, demanding immediate intervention. He said that due to the four-lane construction in Chalonthi area, the houses of many families are in danger and people are being forced to pack their belongings and migrate temporarily.
Karan Nanda said that due to the closure of bus services on Sanjauli-Dhali bypass for the last several days, hundreds of people, especially elderly, women, students and patients, are facing a lot of problems. This situation is not only worrying from the human point of view, but also reflects the technical and administrative negligence of the construction agencies.
He clearly demanded that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should take this entire matter on top priority and seriously. Advance compensation should be provided immediately to the families whose houses, land and livelihoods have been affected due to the four-lane construction, and not limited to just surveys and assurances, so that the affected families can adopt safe options.
Besides, a demand has also been made to conduct an impartial review of the technical investigation, geological survey and safety standards done before and during the construction work and to immediately ensure alternative and safe arrangements for traffic in the affected area.
BJP has urged the Central Government to issue strict instructions in this matter and fix accountability of NHAI and related agencies, so that the affected people can get justice, compensation and security and recurrence of such incidents in future can be prevented.