Bus Service Resumes on Kalka-Shimla NH,
3 min readBig Trucks to Operate from August 11
Shimla: Nearly eight days after the closure of Kalka-Shimla National Highway due to the construction of a temporary road near Chakki Mode, people now have access to direct bus services. This development comes as a relief to travelers commuting from Chandigarh to Shimla, eliminating their inconvenience. Furthermore, starting from this Friday, the operation of large trucks is also anticipated on this route.
The recent establishment of a temporary road near Chakki Mode has greatly facilitated the travel experience for those using the Kalka-Shimla National Highway. This improvement allows people to avoid the previous inconveniences they faced. Additionally, under clear weather conditions, it is possible that some larger trucks could undertake trial runs during the evening.
Despite these advancements, the risk of debris falling from the hills onto the road still exists. Additional police forces have been deployed to manage traffic from both directions, ensuring minimal disruption. The construction company involved in these developments also has machinery and staff stationed on site to provide support.
The closure of the Kalka-Shimla National Highway near Chakki Mode had occurred on the night of August 1. Continuous efforts were made to reopen the highway after the construction of an alternative route. During this period, vehicles were diverted through alternate roads. Pedestrians also had to travel an additional kilometer on foot. Bus services were only available up to Chakki Mode, and people had to proceed to their destinations from there.
The construction company has been making persistent efforts to overcome challenges. After nearly 154 hours, on Tuesday, the Kalka-Shimla National Highway was successfully navigated by smaller vehicles near Chakki Mode. Bus services also resumed on Wednesday, with successful trial runs. By Wednesday afternoon, all buses were being operated from Chakki Mode.
Business Activities Resume Regular traffic operations are now being restored systematically, providing relief to both commuters and businesspersons traveling between Parwanoo and Dharampur. The NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and the construction company have worked tirelessly day and night to reopen the highway.
NHAI and the construction company officials have urged drivers to remain cautious while navigating mountainous terrains. Bus services have resumed operations near Chakki Mode. Plans are in place to initiate the operation of larger trucks in the next couple of days. Extra police personnel have been stationed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and prevent any inconvenience. Bheeshm Singh Thakur, DSP Solan, also contributed to these efforts.
Incident at Kandaghat Railway Station A significant amount of debris and stones fell onto the tracks near Kandaghat Railway Station on Wednesday afternoon. This incident briefly disrupted rail operations. Railway staff promptly initiated efforts to clear the debris from the tracks. Within an hour, the tracks were completely cleared. As the debris fell close to Siddh Peeth Hanuman Temple above Kandaghat Railway Station, which had suffered significant damage due to recent rains, the situation was closely monitored by local officials, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate Siddharth Acharya and Nagar Panchayat Executive Officer Rajnish Chauhan.
The magnitude of the debris required assistance from the GSB (Ganga-Jamuna Stone Block) to clear the tracks. Currently, several trees, debris, and stones are on the verge of falling along the tracks. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kandaghat, Siddharth Acharya, stated that the debris falling onto the railway tracks has posed a challenge. Efforts are being made to clear the tracks with the assistance of the GSB.
