PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Haldwani
Union Minister Ajay Tamta has ordered immediate action to ease traffic near the Kainchi Dham shrine, directing officials to upgrade potholed roads, build alternative routes, and expand parking. He stressed the fact that the long traffic logjams are not just inconveniencing the devotees for the shrine but also impeding movement of travellers going to Almora, Pithoragarh and other mountainous areas.
The Union Minister convened a meeting on Saturday with the officials of Police, National Highway Authority of India, Public Works Department, RTO and Forest department in Kathgodam and directed them to take concrete steps to get rid of the jam.
He also suggested diversion of vehicles heading for the mountainous region via the Jeolikote route to ease traffic congestion around Kainchi Dham.
Further, he directed a joint survey to develop a parking space on the vacant land under occupation of the Forest department nursery near Niglat and repair the Patligaon-Ratighat stretch and the Sanatorium-Patligaon stretch. He also stressed on building a two-lane road from Quarab-Talla Ramgarh and developing an alternative route from Kainchi Dham to Hara Tappa.
A proposal to build a bailey bridge to alleviate traffic congestion at the Bhimtal-Nainital intersection in Ranibagh was also put forward at the meeting. The minister directed officials to conduct a survey and submit a report while emphasising the plan to widen Gulabghati and the road from Bhowali to Kainchi Dham.
To control the crowds of devotees, the minister asked the temple administration to coordinate with the district administration regarding opening the temple at 4 AM and creating separate entry and exit routes. He also appealed to the people to park their vehicles only in designated parking areas and to follow traffic rules.
Senior superintendent of police, Nainital, Manjunath TC along with officers of various departments was present at the meeting.
