Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi/Dehradun, 16 Dec: Tehri Garhwal MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah has raised the issue of persistent inconvenience faced by the public due to restrictions linked to the Forest Research Institute (FRI) premises in the Kaulagarh area of Dehradun district during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Monday The matter was taken up by Shah on a request from Cantt MLA Savita Kapoor, reflecting long-standing public concern over traffic congestion and safety on the busy stretch.
Placing the issue before the House under Rule 377, Shah stated that the Dehradun–Kaulagarh–Bajawala road, which further connects to the National Highway leading towards Paonta Sahib, is extremely narrow and has become a major cause of frequent traffic jams and road accidents. The road serves as a crucial link for the residents of Kaulagarh, Bajawala and several adjoining villages, who depend on it daily for commuting to Dehradun city for work, education, healthcare and other essential needs. She pointed out that the demand for widening the road has been pending for years, with local residents repeatedly highlighting the risks posed by the existing narrow carriageway, especially during peak hours.
The MP also informed the House that in order to address the problem, the Provincial Division of the Public Works Department in Dehradun has prepared a detailed proposal for developing a 30-foot-wide road over a stretch of around 1,500 metres. The proposed alignment runs from Kaulagarh Charkhi Gate, passing through the security wall of the Forest Research Institute, and extends up to Bajawala. However, she said that despite the proposal being ready, progress has been stalled due to administrative and departmental hurdles at the level of the Forest Research Institute (FRI), as site inspections and the required clearances have not yet been granted.
Shah urged Union Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav to intervene and accord the necessary permissions for the immediate widening of the road, emphasising that the project is vital in public interest. She stressed that timely approval would not only ease chronic traffic congestion but also ensure safer, more convenient and uninterrupted commuting facilities for thousands of residents in the area.
Cantt MLA Savita Kapoor and local residents have in return expressed gratitude to the Tehri MP for effectively raising the long-pending public issue in the Lok Sabha and has also expressed hope for an early and positive resolution of the issue.
