02-05-2025
HC seeks state's reply on Nainital traffic woes
Dehradun: Taking serious note of traffic congestion in Nainital, Bhowali, and Kainchi Dham, the
Uttarakhand high court
on Friday directed the state govt to file a response within three weeks. The direction came while hearing a
public interest litigation
(PIL) filed by Vijay Budhlakoti, a resident of Kainchi Dham tehsil.
A division bench comprising Senior Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Ashish Naithani termed the issue "highly urgent", observing that resolving traffic jams in the region would not only benefit the local population but also ease pressure on key tourist destinations. The court noted that the issue pertains to public interest needs, and the next hearing has been scheduled for July.
Petitioner Vijay Budhlakoti urged the court to issue directions to manage traffic flow and improve road connectivity to remote villages in the area. He pointed out that several villages are either connected only via mud tracks or are not connected to main roads at all.
"Villagers are still forced to use the old 'doli' system to carry pregnant women and the sick — a practice dating back to British times," Budhlakoti said in his petition.
He further requested that the PMGSY road from Raatighat be linked to the main road via Churani and Tegda, which he said would offer better access and significantly reduce traffic congestion across Lake City, Bhowali, Kainchi Dham, and nearby areas.
