Residents demand urgent repair of Aut-Luhri road

The poor condition of the Aut-Luhri highway (NH 305) has set in disappointment among residents of Banjar in Kullu district who are now calling for its immediate repair. This highway stretch, that has not been tarred since 2012, has fallen into utter disrepair impacting daily life of local residents and local businesses.

Guman Singh, a prominent tourism stakeholder from Banjar, expressed his concerns, stating, “The Aut-Luhri highway is a lifeline for our valley which supports our economic and social well-being. The road’s deteriorating condition is a serious concern, causing hardships for residents, businesses, commuters, taxi drivers, and tourists.”

Hemraj Sharma, another resident, highlighted the dangers posed by the road’s pathetic condition. He described the stretch from Jalori Pass to Aut as particularly hazardous, especially for commuters.

KL Suman, XEN of the HP Public Works Department, asserted that the maintenance contract for the stretch from Jalori Pass to Ghiaghi would be awarded based on a performance-based management contract for five years. Earlier tenders for this section had failed due to lack of qualified bidders. The department plans to re-invite tenders soon.

For the section from Ghiaghi to Aut, Suman revealed that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, requesting Rs 6.41 crore for road tarring and improvements. “We will commence maintenance work as soon as we receive the necessary funds from the central government,” he assured.

A letter to the Chief Engineer (North-1) at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways sent by HP PWD Chief Engineer (NH) highlighted that the highway passes through popular tourist destinations such as Banjar, Jibhi, and Jalori Pass, which are a part of the Great Himalayan National Park. The letter emphasised that the road’s poor condition leads to frequent traffic jams and negative tourist experiences, with protests from locals and visitors being common.

The letter further noted that the road had not seen any tarring work since 2012, and in the current state, lacking proper carriageway markings, it resembles a ‘kuchcha’ road. Despite efforts by the department to maintain it with available resources, these measures have been insufficient.