Himachal Pradesh News
Four Months After Landslide, Jakhu Housing Board Colony Still Awaits Road Restoration
Four months after a massive landslide cut off Shimla’s Jakhu Housing Board Colony, residents continue to struggle without road access. Tendering has begun for a ₹17-crore restoration project, but completion may take months.
Four months after road connectivity to the Housing Board Colony in Jakhu was severed, the government’s failure to restore the route continues to cause significant hardship for residents. The access road and retaining walls collapsed following a major landslide triggered by intense monsoon rains, and despite repeated appeals, little meaningful progress has been made.
For the colony’s nearly 150 residents—many of them elderly—the situation has become increasingly difficult. “Our biggest concern is medical emergencies. If an elderly person needs to reach the hospital, how will we take them? Winter will make things even worse,” said one resident, urging the Public Works Department (PWD) to consider temporary access arrangements until full restoration is completed.
Another resident described the daily challenges of living without a functional road. “Even routine tasks like bringing ration or essential supplies have become extremely difficult. We have no place to park our vehicles. We leave them on the road below the colony, but police keep telling us not to park there,” she said.
The PWD, however, maintains that work is set to begin. “We have floated the tender, which will be available online from Monday. The contract will be awarded by the end of this month,” said Suresh Kapoor, Chief Engineer, Shimla Zone. He noted that the restoration would take three to four months, as the project involves slope stabilisation using micro-piling, anchoring and the construction of gabion walls. “It’s a major project worth ₹17 crore,” he said.
Local MLA Harish Janartha said the project will be funded by the State Disaster Management Authority, with additional support assured by the Chief Minister. “I will also contribute from my MLA fund,” he added. “Given the difficulties residents are facing, we will try to clear the road first before taking up the remaining work.”
