Plan afoot to construct all-weather roads in Himachal to bolster disaster preparedness
Report on ways to improve Himachal Vidhan Sabha-Anadale road to be submitted soon; road map likely to replicated across state
Nine months after torrential rains triggered devastating floods that left behind a trail of destruction in the state, the Himachal government has taken the first step towards a proactive approach to disaster preparedness. Partnering with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the government aims to construct all-weather disaster-resilient roads in the vulnerable regions.
One of the primary areas of focus for CDRI is the mapping and improvement of the road linking the Vidhan Sabha to the Annandale helipad, the largest helipad nearest to the China border. The strategic location plays a crucial role in facilitating government and army operations. However, during the monsoon season, a portion of the road sank, causing difficulties for both locals and authorities.
CDRI has been actively engaged in mapping the road for the past three days and will prepare a detailed report on the road map to transform it into an all-weather road.
Himachal Pradesh Disaster Management Authority (HPDMA) director DC Rana expressed optimism about the project’s success, highlighting its potential to be replicated elsewhere in the state.
“The initiative is part of the state’s proactive approach and collaboration with specialised organisations to enhance disaster resilience infrastructure, ensuring the safety and accessibility of critical routes in the face of natural calamities,” he said.
CDRI is also extensively mapping the road connecting Mehli to Shogi, where landslides are common during the monsoon season.
The necessity for disaster resilience roads was felt more urgently after last year’s monsoon disaster that claimed 445 lives and wrecked 2,546 houses and 317 business establishments.
