By Sunil Sonkar
Mussoorie, 24 Jul: The first spell of heavy monsoon rain has exposed the poor quality of road construction and repair work carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) in Mussoorie. Several major roads across the town have developed large potholes, creating serious safety concerns for residents and tourists alike. The condition has become so bad that people joke it is difficult to tell whether there are potholes on the road or roads between the potholes.
The stretch from the Mussoorie Petrol Pump to Picture Palace Chowk, along with several other roads in the town, has deteriorated significantly. Rainwater filling these potholes makes it difficult for drivers to judge their depth, increasing the risk of accidents, particularly for two-wheeler riders. Residents fear that, if roads are already in such poor condition at the beginning of the monsoon, the situation could worsen in the coming weeks.
Every year, crores of rupees are spent on road construction and maintenance before the tourist season. However, roads getting damaged after the very first heavy rainfall have raised serious questions about the quality of the work. Locals allege that poor construction standards are forcing both residents and visitors to bear the consequences.
Sumit Kumar, President of the Mussoorie Kincraig Taxi Association, said the repeated disruption of the Mussoorie–Dehradun road has already affected the taxi business. Now, the large potholes within the town are causing damage to taxi vehicles as well. He stated that roads are repaired every year, but poor workmanship results in them breaking apart after just one spell of rain. This not only increases maintenance costs for vehicle owners but also causes inconvenience to passengers. He urged the government and the PWD to repair the damaged roads immediately and ensure better construction quality in the future.
Local traders and residents pointed out that Mussoorie is one of Uttarakhand’s leading tourist destinations, attracting lakhs of visitors from across India and abroad every year. Poor road conditions not only inconvenience tourists but also damage the town’s reputation, which could ultimately impact the local tourism-based economy.
Residents have demanded a high-level inquiry into the quality of road construction, accountability for officials and contractors responsible for substandard work, and immediate repair of all damaged roads before any major accident occurs during the ongoing monsoon season.
