Dug-up roads, delays frustrate residents as cabling work drags on in Doon

Dehradun: Residents across several parts of Dehradun have expressed growing frustration over the prolonged underground power line project, noting that roads have been repeatedly dug up, leaving behind dust, traffic congestion, damaged footpaths and scattered piles of construction material in residential neighbourhoods.The project, funded by Asian Development Bank, is underway on several stretches, including Saharanpur Road, Kanwali Road, Raipur Road, Matawala Bagh near Laxman Chowk, Balliwala Chowk and Dharampur. While the initiative aims to modernise the city’s power infrastructure, residents and shopkeepers say the slow pace of work has caused significant inconvenience.Rajendra Singh, a shopkeeper in Dharampur, said, “It has been over 20 days since the digging work began, but the road has not been fixed and pipes have been left on the roadside. Though the recent rain has helped settle the dust, it has turned the road muddy.”Manoj Kumar Goyal, a resident of Saharanpur Road, alleged that water pipelines were damaged during the excavation. “The footpaths were also destroyed, and traffic congestion has worsened due to the reduced road space,” he said.On Kanwali Road, shopkeeper Vikas Rekhi said traders and pedestrians have been struggling with the conditions created by the project. “There is too much dust and debris on the roadside. All footpaths here have already been encroached upon by shop extensions, and with this work going on, it becomes all the more difficult for pedestrians,” he said.Local residents also highlighted safety hazards created by recent rainfall. “Water has collected in the dug-up roads, posing a risk to two-wheelers. It is easy to lose balance and slip, especially since the standing water acts as a camouflage for potholes,” said Preeti Rana, a Mothrowali resident.On Canal Road, residents claimed that pipes used for laying underground power lines have been left unattended on the roadside. “The work is being carried out in a haphazard manner. It needs to be completed properly to provide some relief,” said Yesh Veer Arya, a local resident.On Sunday, district magistrate Ashish Chauhan directed that all priority public welfare projects on roads be completed by June 7 and handed over to the PWD for timely repair and restoration work.Arun Kant, executive engineer of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd, said efforts were being made to finish digging before the monsoon. “We will try to complete the digging work by the stipulated time. After that, the remaining superficial work will be carried out. From our end, only the termination and connection of power lines will remain after mid-June,” he said.Kant acknowledged that the project’s deadline had already passed and stated that the department was seeking an extension. He added that work on several roads had been completed and handed over to the PWD for repairs, while officials would also look into complaints regarding the unattended pipes.