Kangra assures road restoration as tourists highlight infrastructure issues

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Dharamshala, July 11

The Himachal Pradesh government’s vision of developing Kangra district as the state’s ‘tourism capital’ has come under scrutiny as tourists continue to face damaged roads and frequent traffic congestion on the Dharamshala–McLeod Ganj route during the peak tourist season.

While visitors from across the country have praised the region’s scenic beauty and pleasant weather, many have expressed dissatisfaction over broken roads, deep potholes and persistent traffic jams, saying these issues have adversely affected their travel experience.

Neha, a tourist from Jammu, said the weather and atmosphere in Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj were excellent, but travelling through the area was often difficult because of narrow roads and heavy traffic.

“The weather and overall ambience here are wonderful, but the narrow roads and traffic congestion make the journey quite troublesome. This time, however, the crowd is comparatively smaller, making sightseeing more convenient,” she said.

Another tourist, Roomi, said the weather in Dharamkot was highly enjoyable, but the route leading to Gallu Devi Temple posed significant challenges due to landslides and muddy conditions.

“There is a need for better traffic management and improved road infrastructure at tourist destinations,” Roomi said.

Responding to the concerns, Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said on Saturday that the district’s mountainous terrain and natural challenges, including landslides, occasionally damage roads, but such issues should not be viewed as undermining Kangra’s vision of becoming a tourism capital.

“Some road stretches have been damaged, but the majority of roads across the district remain in good and motorable condition,” Bairwa said.

He added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Public Works Department (PWD), and other concerned agencies are carrying out repairs to damaged roads. According to the Deputy Commissioner, restoration work is progressing rapidly on the Dharamshala Bypass, the McLeod Ganj road and other affected stretches.

Bairwa said that most of the damaged sections on the Dharamshala–McLeod Ganj road have already been restored, with only resurfacing (black-topping) work remaining. Once completed, he said, the road would be restored to smooth driving conditions.

However, continued complaints from tourists during the tourism season indicate that alongside efforts to establish Kangra as a tourism capital, greater emphasis will also be required on road infrastructure and traffic management to enhance the overall visitor experience.