15 villages near Mussoorie to finally get a road, 70 years after independence

MUSSOORIE: Seventy years after independence, 15 villages barely five kilometre from Mussoorie would finally be connected by road in a few months' time with the foundation stone of the project being laid last week. The move, says Dhanvir Raunchela, a class 12 student and a budding athlete, “would be a great relief.” “I walk 10 km every day to reach my school.It leaves me exhausted and I don’t get time for any sports practice. Things get worse in winter since it gets dark soon and there is fear of wild animals. That is why, I am looking forward to the day when the road would come to our village.”
Raunchela is just one of the many people from the 15-odd villages whose lives are all set to change once the Khattapani-Mussoorie road becomes operational. The road, that is currently being built till Khattapani village, three kilometre from Mussoorie, will also benefit villagers from Tuneta, Kafulti, Ledur and Mawana lying ahead since it would curtail at least some of their walking time.
Currently, the absence of a road has also led several parents to either rent rooms in Mussoorie (where they stay with their children for their education) or have them stay with relatives. The children go to their parents in the village only during holidays or the weekend.
But adversity sometimes also brings out the best. Take for example one of the incidents that Municipal Council of Mussoorie member Beena Panwar witnessed about four years back that made her decide to take up the road construction agenda with gusto. “I still remember a woman in her 40s who was severely unwell, walk all the way up to Mussoorie. She was visibly ailing. She was carrying a shawl and lay down on the kutcha road when she was too tired. Then she’d get up and walk till she wanted to rest again. This sight moved me beyond words and I decided to do something about it.”
When Panwar decided to take up the agenda of the road, fellow council member Kuldeep Rawat decided to join her. Together the duo pushed hard for the road to become a reality.
While it did take them three years to get permissions from various departments, it was worth the wait, says Rawat.
Chief minister Harish Rawat and urban development Minister Pritam Panwar sanctioned Rs 1.2 crore for the road. Last week, the foundation stone was laid and villagers are hoping that the work will begin soon.
But like daily labourer Bhagat Das who walks about 5 km everyday from his village Kafulti to Mussoorie for work, says, “It’s strange how no one thought of us for so many years and with elections round the corner, they’ve finally woken up. I am keeping my fingers crossed about the road till I see the work begin and more importantly, get completed.”