The left bank road is a vital lifeline for thousands of residents and serves as the primary emergency route connecting Manali to the rest of the country. However, the stretch from Aleo to Naggar has become a nightmare for commuters. Potholes riddle the route, with Karjan, Jagatsukh, Chhaki, Mathi, Shuru, and Prini reported as the worst-affected areas.
“We are living in constant fear,” said a local resident. “The potholes are so deep that vehicles easily lose balance. Breakdowns have become routine,” he said.
Commuters frequently complain of severe jolts and vehicle damage, while narrow bottlenecks trigger chronic traffic jams for locals and tourists alike.
Residents note the bitter irony of the road’s neglect, given that it served as a critical lifeline during the devastating floods of 2023 and 2025. When main highways were washed away, this route remained functional, keeping essential supplies moving and allowing apple growers to transport their multi-crore crops to nationwide markets.
Despite its proven strategic importance, the road remains neglected. While the Public Works Department (PWD) has carried out temporary patchwork, officials concede it is a stopgap measure. PWD Assistant Engineer Akash Sood assured that formal repair work on the stretch from Aleo towards Kullu would be undertaken soon.
In June 2021, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the double-laning of the Kullu-Naggar-Manali stretch as a priority, and the NHAI initiated a detailed project report (DPR) in January 2023. Long-term discussions also featured Rs 5,621-crore four-lane project along the Beas left bank. However, successive floods shifted official focus back to restoring the main Kiratpur-Manali highway, leaving the left bank upgrade in limbo.
For now, thousands of commuters continue to risk their lives on a road that has transformed into an accident trap, with no immediate relief in sight.
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