Paper-thin roads? Villagers peel off Rs 15 crore asphalt stretch by hand

By-Yogesh NagarkotiBAGESHWAR: Concerns over road construction quality in Uttarakhand’s hill regions have intensified after videos from remote villages showed residents peeling off freshly laid asphalt with their bare hands.The controversy centred on the Bharadi–Soung road in Kapkot, a crucial 15-km stretch connecting the Pindari Glacier and the origin of the Saryu river. The road, currently being widened and repaired at a cost of Rs 15 crore, is frequented by tourists and trekkers. Residents allege the work is substandard.“The asphalt comes off with just a touch. In many places, widening is incomplete,” said resident Badri Goswami, who also pointed to a recent accident that claimed two lives, arguing that stronger parapets could have prevented the fatalities.Officials, however, defended the project. PMGSY Kapkot executive engineer Ambrish Rawat said the construction quality was inspected and found satisfactory. “Continuous traffic is preventing the asphalt layer from setting properly. During my visit on Tuesday, the base layer gradation was found satisfactory. Traffic will be regulated in intervals to allow proper setting,” he said, adding that work has been temporarily halted and contractors instructed to adhere strictly to quality standards.Similar concerns have surfaced on the Kanda–Pangchaura road, about 80km away, where villagers alleged poor repair work. PMGSY Bageshwar executive engineer Umesh Kumar maintained that no official work was underway, claiming the contractor was repairing the stretch on a “goodwill basis.”Residents questioned this explanation. “If the work is not officially sanctioned, why is it being carried out? If an accident occurs due to poor quality, who will be held accountable?” asked resident Soni Majila.Residents said these roads were expected to support both local and tourist traffic, but the situation raised doubts about construction standards and oversight. They feared any deterioration in the coming days might be attributed to weather conditions rather than poor workmanship.