In Banjar on Tuesday as local residents took to the streets to protest the deteriorating state of National Highway 305. The 49-km stretch, which runs from Aut to Jalori in Himachal Pradesh, has long been a thorn in the side of locals, particularly with the onset of the tourist season, when the road becomes a bottleneck for both locals and visitors.
The protesters, a diverse group from all walks of life, marched through Banjar village demanding immediate repairs and the widening of the highway. Kishan Thakur, a resident of Banjar, expressed the collective frustration, calling the highway a “joke.” The narrow, pothole-ridden road is a daily nightmare for drivers, he said. During the peak tourist season, traffic snarls are frequent, creating hours of delays for those travelling to popular destinations like Jibhi and Tirthan. Thakur pointed out that even after the retaining walls of the highway collapsed during the 2023 monsoon, they remain unrepaired. This, he argued, not only endangers drivers but also deters tourists who, after getting stuck in traffic for long hours, often choose not to return.
The situation has also had a detrimental effect on the local economy. Lalit Kumar, a hotelier in the Banjar subdivision, blamed the bad condition of the highway for the downturn in business. “Tourists visiting Jibhi or Tirthan are facing delays that frustrate them and discourage return visits,” Kumar explained. “The government’s lack of action on the highway is directly harming tourism and related industries in the region, yet nothing is being done.” Beyond the economic impact, the highway is notorious for being one of the most accident-prone routes in the state. Between 2012 and 2023, at least 83 lives were lost on the stretch, according to an RTI response. Residents believe that the road’s narrow width and unaddressed dangerous spots are directly contributing to these fatalities. Kumar noted that had the road been widened and hazardous sections addressed, the number of fatalities could have been significantly reduced.
Despite being designated as a national highway in 2012, the road has seen minimal development. Although a survey for the road’s expansion began three years ago, it remains incomplete. The lack of progress on widening the road has left many residents feeling that their concerns are being ignored. Bureaucratic delays have further exacerbated the problem. Guman Singh, an activist from the region, pointed out that the last detailed project report (DPR) for the highway’s maintenance was approved in 2021, but no work has been undertaken since. He also noted that the government has failed to approve a new DPR because the contractor responsible for maintenance has not delivered, and the contractor’s liability period extends until 2026. For locals, these ongoing delays are a source of growing frustration. The condition of National Highway 305 has become a symbol of the inefficiencies and bureaucratic hurdles that plague infrastructure projects in the region. As the protestors gathered, their message was clear: they can no longer accept the status quo.
With no sign of action from authorities, residents of Banjar have taken the issue into their own hands, demanding that the road be repaired and expanded to meet the growing needs of both locals and tourists. The protest in Banjar reflects broader concerns about road safety, infrastructure development, and the local economy in Himachal Pradesh. With traffic issues and road accidents rising across the state, many are questioning why progress on crucial highway projects remains stalled. While the protestors hope for a swift resolution, the outcome remains uncertain, and the clock continues to tick on a highway in dire need of repair.
