Despite the notice sent by the Srinagar division of the National Highway Authority of India to the Pauri Municipal Council against proceeding with the construction in the under-construction bus station at district headquarters of Pauri, the municipal board is allegedly continuing with the construction, defying the notice. It is learnt that the civic board is planning to construct a few shops in areas wedged between Kotdwar-Pauri-Srinagar National Highway and Mall Road.
The Srinagar division officials said that letter will be written to district magistrate regarding the matter in a couple of days. The act of the municipal board sans permission of the National Highway Division amounts to violation of rules and norms. Srinagar division National Highways executive engineer Dhirendra Kumar told The Pioneer that after the inspection of the under- construction bus station on April 22, it was found that Pauri municipal board started construction work in front of Frontier hotel towards the retaining wall of the National Highway in violation of the rules.
A notice was accordingly served to the executive officer, Pauri municipal board on 24 April. Now, a letter will be sent to the DM regarding this matter, he said. He further said that all encroachments coming along Kotdwar-Pauri- Srinagar National Highway in Pauri and Srinagar falling under the jurisdiction of the division will be demolished.
The NHAI has sent notice to twenty persons in Pauri regarding the encroachment and the violation of the NHAI norms. Thirty more persons have been identified in Srinagar (Garhwal) for encroaching and violating National Highway norms. However, notices will be served to them after the roads concerned are handed over to NHAI by Border Road Organization, added Dhirendra Kumar. The Rishikesh –Devprayag –Srinagar National Highway is now fully prepared for smooth run of traffic. Things were completed before Char Dham Yatra was launched.