Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 2 Jul: Questions have arisen regarding the quality of construction and safety measures on the Barlowganj-Maryville Estate Road, recently built by the Municipal Council in Mussoorie. Late Wednesday evening, a ‘Max’ pickup truck got stuck in an open pit left for sewerage work during the road construction. The vehicle was damaged in the incident. Fortunately, the driver escaped unhurt; otherwise, a major tragedy could have occurred.
According to eyewitnesses, the pickup was transporting building material from Maryville Estate Road towards Jaypee Hotel when its front tyre went into an open pit in the middle of the road. Losing its balance, the vehicle tilted to one side and sustained significant damage. A crowd of locals gathered at the scene following the incident.
Locals allege that, while the Municipality completed the road construction, pits for sewerage work were left open at several locations. Neither barricading nor warning signs have been installed around these pits. With two-wheelers and four-wheelers passing by daily, there is a constant risk of accidents. Residents state that a serious accident could occur if a motorcyclist or pedestrian were to fall into these pits at night. They allege that the contractor’s negligence is putting lives at risk.
Following the incident, locals have demanded strict action against the contractor by the municipal administration. They insist that until the sewerage work is completed, sturdy barricades, reflectors, and warning signs should be installed at the affected sites to prevent accidents. Locals state that while the objective of development projects is to provide better amenities to citizens, construction work carried out without adhering to safety standards poses a danger to the public. They have demanded an inspection of the road construction quality and the immediate rectification of any deficiencies. It is expected that the municipality will take cognisance of the matter, initiate action against the responsible contractor, and ensure that open pits are safely filled or properly barricaded to prevent any major accidents in the future.
