Shimla: Among the busiest roads of the city, the Sanjauli-IGMC road is bad shape, the tarmac has given way at many places and both pedestrians and vehicles have to rough it out among the numerous potholes and puddles on the way.
Not that road conditions are prefect anywhere in the city but the Sanjauli – IGMC road in particular is in need of immediate attention for the numerous potholes on it, particularly near IGMC Hospital, make it tough to drive on it. On rainy days, water that gets accumulated in these potholes makes it dangerous both for pedestrians and vehicles. Walkers often are at the receiving end as muddy water from a passing vehicle gets splashed onto them,” says Aakarshan Chauhan, a doctor at IGMC, who often takes this road.
Being the shortest road link between Sanjauli – the biggest residential colony of Shimla, and the The Mall – the city’s main market, the road is frequently taken by many people, including businessmen, students and others on a daily basis. With road passing by the state hospital IGMC, patients, doctors and paramedics are also major users of this road.
The authorities should ensure that this important road can stand the monsoon season, says Chauhan.
Water logging has become a problem on some stretches of this road and even though last year’s rainy season was not very heavy but the damage it has left behind has not been repaired.
Surinder Sharma, a resident of Sanjauli even considers it unsafe to walk on the road. “It’s hard both to avoid the traffic that is increasing by the day and protecting yourself by being splashed by muddy slush from a passing vehicle at the same time,” he said.
When contacted Deputy Mayor, Tikender Panwar says, “The road is scheduled to be repaired as the very onset of the working summer season. An amount of Rs 2.5 Cr stands sanctioned for this road by the state government.”
Preneeta Sharma, a budding journalist with a strong flair for picking out the unusual from the usual.
Preneeta lives in Shimla and is a contributor reporter with Hill Post.
