ANWAR HUSSIAN
BADDI: Road improvement works across the Doon Assembly constituency, including the National Highway stretch, are progressing rapidly, MLA Ramkumar Chaudhary said during a press briefing on Friday. He noted that this year’s heavy rainfall caused extensive damage across Himachal Pradesh, and as soon as the monsoon ended, restoration of roads in the constituency began at full pace.
The MLA said that due to the slow pace of National Highway repairs, he staged a protest, after which patchwork from Baddi to Nalagarh has now largely been completed. Patchwork on the Baddi–Sai road has also been carried out, making it pothole-free. An estimate of ₹8 crore has been sent for tendering, and work will begin soon after technical approval is granted.
Chaudhary said a major sewer line will be laid along the Baddi–Sai stretch, and ₹3.17 crore has been provided to the electricity department for installing 40-foot-high poles. This will help clear the overhead mesh of electric wires along the route. He added that a dedicated pedestrian walkway from Baddi Red Light to Vardhman will also be constructed.
The Baddi–Sai road, the industrial area, Jhar Majri and other adjoining industrial belts have been declared non-ready-fadi zones. To ensure that traders do not face losses, a separate designated space will be identified where street vendors can operate.
Chaudhary said that transforming Baddi into a beautiful city on the lines of Chandigarh is his dream, and he will not compromise on this goal. He added that while encroachments on the Baddi–Sai stretch need to be cleared, shopkeepers have been advised to voluntarily remove their temporary sheds to avoid financial loss.
Former Municipal Council president Madan Chaudhary was also present at the briefing.