By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 17 Mar: Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi inspected the damaged section of the Mussoorie-Dehradun National Highway near the Valmiki Temple here, today, and directed officials to immediately rectify the situation. He stated that, in order to ensure smooth traffic flow, one lane should be opened for light vehicles for the time being, and repair work must be completed expeditiously. During the inspection, the Minister expressed displeasure over the traffic management system and reprimanded the Mussoorie Kotwal.
He issued clear instructions that, under no circumstances should vehicles—including school taxis or scooters—be allowed to be parked at Gandhi Chowk. Directing immediate action against those violating the rules, he also ordered the removal of government vehicles from the area.
Subsequently, holding a meeting with officials at the ‘Hawa Ghar’ located at Gandhi Chowk, the Minister reviewed ongoing development works. He directed the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority to expedite the beautification project for the Mall Road. Simultaneously, he issued strict directives to officials of the Mussoorie-Garhwal Jal Sansthan (Water Corporation) to improve the drinking water supply system within the city. The Minister noted that, despite the existence of the Rs 144 crore Mussoorie-Yamuna Pumping Scheme, water scarcity persists in certain areas; he ordered that this issue be resolved immediately to ensure that consumers face no inconvenience whatsoever.
Emphasising the need to enhance amenities in this tourist hub, he asserted that tourists visiting Mussoorie should not encounter any form of inconvenience. To this end, all departments concerned have been directed to work in close coordination. Minister Joshi also provided updates regarding the permanent construction of the bridge which is considered the lifeline connecting Mussoorie and Dehradun. He said that approval for the bridge’s construction has been granted; while such projects typically take 7–8 months to complete, the agency has been directed to work round-the-clock to ensure the bridge is ready within four months. Issuing a stern warning to all officials, he declared that no form of negligence would be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against anyone found to be at fault.
During this interaction, the Minister also took a jibe at the Congress, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party remains prepared for every election, and this time, too, its focus is on widening the victory margin. Commenting on Congress leader Dr Harak Singh Rawat, he remarked that since the latter has been associated with multiple political parties, he did not wish to offer any specific comments on him; however, he did not rule out the possibility of his joining the BJP in the future. Present on this occasion were Municipal Chairperson Meera Saklani, BJP Mandal President Rajat Agarwal, Kushal Rana, Amit Bhatt, Sachin Guher, Mussoorie Yuva Morcha President Sachin Pawar, Dharampal Pawar, Ashutosh Kothari, Mussoorie Kotwal Devendra Chauhan, along with officials from various government departments.
