The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has shifted nearly half of the alignment of the 208-km Pathankot-Mandi highway, but thousands of vehicles still travel on the old road every day. That old road is in poor condition, and commuters say it has become dangerous.
The Tribune reports that the existing highway has been neglected. Routine repairs and maintenance work have reportedly been ignored while NHAI focuses on building the new alignment. For people who depend on this route, the potholes and unsafe bridges are now a daily threat to their lives.
Why the Old Pathankot-Mandi Highway Remains in Use
According to The Tribune, NHAI had planned a new road along the 60-km Paror-Padhar stretch. Similarly, the alignment of a 30-km stretch between Rajol and Nagrota Bagwan has been changed. This means nearly 100 km of the existing highway is unlikely to be used for the proposed road widening project.
But the old highway continues to carry heavy traffic. Even though a large portion of the road may be abandoned in the future, commuters have no choice but to use it now. The poor condition of the road makes every trip risky.
Unsafe Bridges Add to Commuter Danger on the Highway
The problem is not just potholes. Bridges along the route are also unsafe. Reports describe the situation as a "death trap" for drivers and passengers. The combination of damaged road surfaces and weak bridges creates serious safety concerns for everyone using the highway.
Commuters are calling for immediate action. They want the old highway to be maintained properly until the new alignment is ready. In our view, this is a fair demand — people should not have to risk their lives because of a delay in infrastructure projects.
"Paror bridge potholes turn Pathankot-Mandi Highway into death trap." — Newswav
What Commuters Face on the Potholed Stretch
- Potholes across the road surface make driving hazardous, especially at high speeds.
- Unsafe bridges raise the risk of accidents and structural failure.
- Routine maintenance has reportedly been neglected while NHAI prioritizes the new alignment.
- Thousands of vehicles continue to use the old road daily despite its condition.
Our Take: Neglect of the Old Highway Puts Lives at Risk
To put it plainly, this is a failure of responsibility. While planning for a new road is necessary, abandoning the existing highway before the replacement is ready is reckless. The people using this route are not statistics — they are commuters with families who deserve safe travel.
NHAI must balance its long-term projects with short-term safety. Routine repairs and bridge inspections on the old highway should continue until the new alignment is fully operational. Waiting for a tragedy to act is not an option. The authorities need to step up now and address the potholes and unsafe bridges before more lives are endangered.
This news matters to every commuter on this route. If you travel on the Pathankot-Mandi highway, your safety depends on how quickly NHAI responds to these concerns. We urge the authorities to treat this as an emergency, not a routine matter.