Residents of Raiduni and Bagi in Tehri’s Gusain Patti are struggling with a 5-km road that has remained without surfacing 13 years after its construction. Large potholes now line the route, making travel difficult for the villages’ more than 1200 residents.

The road was built in 2013 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Although it provided the villages with road connectivity, residents say the promised surfacing has still not been completed.

During the monsoon, rainwater collects in the potholes and turns sections of the route muddy. In summer, passing vehicles send up clouds of dust, increasing discomfort for people living near the road and making journeys harder for pedestrians and drivers.

Farmers face transport difficulties

Most residents of both villages grow cash crops. Their produce must be taken by road to the main route before being transported to markets in Dehradun and Mussoorie.

Sunil Juyal, a district panchayat member, said the road has now been transferred to the Public Works Department’s Chamba division. He said the damaged route was also raised prominently during a block-level meeting, but the problem has not yet been resolved.

Village head Urmila Chauhan and block panchayat member Gopal Singh Chauhan said residents had been seeking repairs and surfacing for a long time. They said potholes are causing difficulties for vehicle operators and pedestrians, while dust during summer makes it difficult for people in nearby homes to live comfortably.

Residents also said departmental officials had not treated the issue with sufficient seriousness. The road’s condition has therefore continued to affect everyday movement between the 2 villages.

Estimate to be prepared for government

Amit Rusia, assistant engineer with the Public Works Department’s Chamba division, said a proposal for surfacing the Raiduni-Bagi road had been received from the local legislator.

Rusia said an estimate would be prepared on the basis of that proposal and sent to the government. The statement identifies the preparation and submission of the estimate as the next official step; it does not specify a construction schedule.

Conclusion

The Raiduni-Bagi road remains a daily challenge for more than 1200 residents after 13 years of waiting for surfacing. The Public Works Department’s Chamba division is expected to prepare an estimate and send it to the government on the basis of the legislator’s proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which villages are connected by the road?

Raiduni and Bagi villages in Gusain Patti, Tehri, are connected by the road.

Q. How long is the affected road?

The road is 5 km long.

Q. When was the road constructed?

It was constructed in 2013 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Q. What problems are residents reporting?

Residents report potholes, rainwater and mud during the monsoon, and dust from traffic during summer.

Q. How many people are affected?

More than 1200 residents of the 2 villages are facing difficulties because of the road’s condition.

Q. Why is the road important for farmers?

Farmers use it to move cash crops towards markets in Dehradun and Mussoorie.

Q. What is the next official step?

The Public Works Department’s Chamba division will prepare an estimate based on the legislator’s proposal and send it to the government.