The pilgrimage to Badrinath shrine resumed on Monday, though those travelling to this shrine had to face inconvenience due to the highway not being repaired completely yet. Due to the damaged condition of the road, the visitors are facing traffic jams en route to Badrinath.
The June 2013 disaster had devastated the stretch of the Badrinath highway between lambagad slide zone and Venakuli. Though nearly a year has passed since the disaster, there has been no major improvement in the condition of this highway. A light rain is turning this damaged stretch into a sludgy path causing problems for both vehicle users and pedestrians. On Monday, when pilgrims were making their way to Badrinath shrine on the occasion of its reopening, the condition of this road caused a traffic jam which lasted a long time.
On the road ahead of Hanuman Chatti, the Border Roads Organisation has done little work due to which the condition of the road is still damaged. Those travelling to Badarinath had to do so cautiously at such stretches while also facing inconvenience; so on Monday, the authorities used a JCB in an attempt to improve the condition of this stretch of the highway. locals complain that inspite of various Government officials repeatedly visiting the route to inspect repair work, the condition of the highway has not seen much improvement. Some stretches of the road have deep potholes, whereas in some spots, the drivers are disembarking the passengers while attempting to cross rough stretches of the highway. Critics here said that inspite of about 11 months passing since the June 2013 disaster and with two departments working on this highway, the authorities have failed to ensure its timely repair. If the authorities fail to improve the conditions here, it remains uncertain whether the number of pilgrims will see a rise in the near future.