The people travelling from upper Shimla district and Kinnaur and Spiti are paying heavy price for the sunken part of the highway, which is narrow and is chocked with traffic over the years.
Traffic jams are the order of the day.
The problems may get worse as the apple season is about to start in June-end and July.
NHAI has yet to do geological survey to find the reason for the sinking. The strata is loose and rain water and drains of the houses located above the road empty into the sunken portion sinking the area further town, inform locals.
Moreover, the HPPWD and NHAI have failed to complete the Theog Bypass which can give relief to the commuters.
Contractor had stopped the work on the bypass few months ago citing payments as reason for doing so. But NHAI has yet to wake up to resolve the issue.
NH 05 is a crucial National Highway that connects Shimla district with Kinnaur district and Kaza of Lahaul Spiti, Rampur, Kotgrah, Chopal, Rohru, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Narwar Tikkar.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the officials from the National Highways Authority of India to ensure the repair work is carried out without causing inconvenience to the public and to prioritize safety precautions. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Theog, Mukesh Sharma, Sub-Divisional Officer from the National Highway Authority, Kanav, and officials from various departments were also present during the inspection.
