MANDI: Thousands of residents of Pandoh and Shiba Badar areas in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh continue to suffer due to the lack of a vital bridge over the Beas, despite an announcement by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu three months ago to take steps to resolve the issue.
The old Lal Pul, which was washed away in the 2023 flashfloods, was supposed to be replaced, but not a single step has been taken on the ground. The locals, thus, are forced to travel an additional 8 km daily, facing major inconveniences.
Three DPRs sent, yet no green light from govt
The situation has turned into a bureaucratic mess, with the Public Works Department (PWD) preparing and submitting three separate detailed project reports (DPRs), all of which remain stuck in approvals.
The first proposal, worth ₹16 crore, was sent under the Bharat Setu Scheme but was rejected.
The second DPR, amounting to ₹21 crore, was submitted under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, yet no progress could be made.
Yet another DPR worth ₹12 crore was prepared later, which has now been sent to the authorities.
When contacted, PWD officials said there was still no approval and work could not proceed without it. Executive Engineer Vinod Sharma acknowledged that the department was waiting for a response.
Local shopkeepers most affected
Local shopkeepers Raman Deep Singh, Khovindra Thakur and Keval Krishna expressed their frustration, stating that the absence of a bridge had severely impacted their businesses.
“Very few people now visit the lower market of Pandoh. Our livelihoods are at stake and the government’s inaction is making matters worse,” they said.
Residents of Ilaka Badar, who are among the worst affected, have raised serious concerns.
Gopal Thakur, a local, pointed out that nearly two years have passed, yet the DPR has not been approved. “The Chief Minister announced the bridge construction three months ago, but there has been no movement on the ground. How much longer do we have to wait?” he questioned.
Political assurances, but no action on the ground
Currently, residents of Ilaka Badar have to travel an additional 8 km to reach Pandoh, causing unnecessary delays and expenses. Locals feel that the government’s apathy is an injustice to them.
“If the authorities do not act soon, we will have no choice but to launch a mass agitation,” warned the residents.
Former Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, a senior Congress leader, claimed he has been consistently pushing for the bridge’s construction and discussing the matter with CM Sukhu.
Munish Sood
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