Mussoorie: Delay in relaying Mall Road irks hoteliers ahead of tourist season

MUSSOORIE: The Public Works Department (PWD) has come under fire as the relaying work on Mall Road remains incomplete even after seven months. The delay has not only frustrated residents but also business owners, especially hoteliers who endured a lacklustre tourist season in May and June.
"The work started in February with a timeline of two months, but to date, it remains pending, posing numerous difficulties for locals," Anuj Gupta, chairman of Mussoorie Municipal Council, said.
"Mounds of debris can be seen lying on the Mall Road. It is also uneven and full of potholes, which led to frequent accidents involving two-wheelers. The roadsides remain unrepaired and cobbling work is yet to be finished," lamented a resident. Residents also questioned the quality of the work and believe that it has been of extremely poor quality.
Hoteliers and shopkeepers along the road said that they suffered huge losses during May and June. "The hotels located on the Mall Road lost about 30% of their business due to negative publicity," said Sanjay Aggarwal, president of the Mussoorie Hotels Association.
TOI spoke to Rajendra Pal, assistant engineer at PWD, who said that the timeline for completion of work had been extended up to June 5, but work could not be completed due to the rains. "We hope to complete the work by September 30," he said.