Rain shelter on Pathankot-Mandi NH cries for immediate attention

A rain shelter at the Batees Meel chowk on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway-154 near Kotla in the Jawali sub-division of Kangra district is in a dilapidated state.

It has failed to serve its basic purpose and turned a bane for passengers waiting for buses. Forced to wait in the scorching heat or during the rains, without any shade, commuters here are left fuming.

According to information, the road construction company engaged by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the Pathankot-Mandi highway widening project had erected the steel structure of the rain shelter over a month back, but didn’t put roofing sheets on it.

The passengers can be seen taking shelter along the roadside shops or kiosks and those carrying luggage face more trouble.

In the opinion of local residents Anil Sharma, Yog Raj and Aman Rana, the highway construction company leaving the structure without putting roofing sheets indicated its apathy towards the public. They have appealed to the local administration to look into the matter at the earliest.