The Pithoragarh tanakpur road closed due to landslide for 12th times in one week

BD Kasniyal
GG News Bureau
Pithoragarh, 24th July. The commuters plying on Pithoragarh to Tanakpur road, the lone lifeline of this border district, are facing challenges in travelling from either side after it was converted brought under all-weather road project. The newly widened road has remained closed for 12 times in a week’s time from last week due to mud debris accumulated on the road triggered by heavy rains.
” The road after it was widened under Prime minister’s all weather project in the year 2017, several sliding zones as compared to before have developed taking the tally of such sliding zones 50 including 12 highly sensitive sliding zones, “said Govind Singh Kafalia , a trader who frequently travels on the road.
According to other commuters who use the road for business purposes on regular basis, the road has now developed several slide sensitive spots where the boulders are falling in even slight rains blocking the road.
“The shooting boulders in 12 Sensitive spots between Sukhidhank to Bhartoli on the road have become a common feature, “said VR Kharkwal, another businessman from the border town.
According to NH section engineers of PWD, with cutting of lengthy hill portions of the road, new sensitive sliding zones have developed making the vehicular traffic risky during monsoon months.
“We are working on charting out a scheme to patch these landslide sensitive zones with the help of design and geological experts from THDC and the team had visited the sensitive zones once. The team soon will make DPR of treating all 50 landslide zones on the road after visiting second time in coming months. “said LD Mathela, a executive engineer NH Section of PWD and in charge of 1200 crore all weather road project aimed at widening work of this strategically significant road.