The Char Dham Yatra has started but the deteriorated condition of roads on the Yatra circuit is causing major inconvenience to the public and posing a danger to travellers.
While pilgrims and tourists from across India and abroad struggle on mountain roads, the Border Roads Organisation is citing fund problems as the cause of delay in road works. The condition of roads has raised a question mark on the functioning of the organisation.
The work on the danger zone at Hauli near Helang on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district has raised questions about the efficiency of the organisation especially as a portion of the reinforcement collapsed and fell into the Alaknanda River on Wednesday evening. It has become common for vehicles to develop faults while traversing this stretch of the road due to the rough conditions.
The BRO is working on the road but the collapse of the reinforcement has raised questions about the quality of material and work. The collapse occurred soon after the start of the Yatra whereas generally such incidents occur at the start of the rains which is still distant.
According to sources, the sand from a local mountain stream was used in the construction in which the required quantity of cement was not used. This correspondent attempted to question BRO officials about the collapse but contact could not be established.