More than a year has passed since the June 2013 disaster but the condition of the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway has not yet improved. There has has been negligible improvement in the condition of the national highway leading to the Gangotri shrine with the locals blaming the apathy and inefficiency of the State Government for this state of affairs.
It is pertinent to mention here that heavy rains, land subsidence, landslides and floods had caused considerable damage to this national highway. More than half a dozen danger zones were created on this highway last year, blocking traffic to and from Gangotri. These danger zones are still awaiting proper treatment.
The situation has now been worsened with these danger zones being activated following recent rains. This has made it difficult for pilgrims, tourists and local commuters to ply on this highway without fear.The danger zones near villages including Tachla, Bemunda, Khadi, Amsera, Nagni, Kotigad and Dhikyara on the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway have become active once again following fresh spells of rain resulting in debris strewn on the road.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had cleared the mud debris from these areas in the month of April earlier this year but due to the temporary nature of this work, the situation has returned back to square one with the rains lashing the region in the past few days.On being contacted by this correspondent, BRO official Vikas Parikh said that work on the highway from Rishikesh to Nagni village has been completed while construction of the safety wall at Tachla was in progress and expected to be completed in the near future.
It is worth mentioning here that the State Government had undertaken publicity campaign and claimed to have repaired the damaged areas adequately enough to facilitate a safe and convenient pilgrimage to the Char Dham shrines. However, the condition of the highway to Gangotri exposes such claims made by the State Government.