Himachal roads are a joy to drive! “Rain Basera” concept amazing

The well marked road leading to Simla (Photo:Shrey)

Recently I had an occasion to drive down to Simla in my car. One thing which astonished me was the quality of road to Simla ahead of Nahan. Why I say “astonished” is we are used to driving on Indian roads in the hilly region and even some of the national highways which are usually in a pathetic state. What I had heard about Himachal Pradesh Government having taken up an ambitious road development plan for the over all economic development of the State proved true to me.

The Kumarhatti-Solan track to Simla was smooth road with not a single pot hole and above all well-maintained. This road was well marked with clearly visible direction signs, milestones and road surface markings all bright and sparkling which I failed to unfortunately see in my State of Uttarakhand. Driving on such a road is certainly any drivers delight. The width and the gradient of this mountainous track was one of the best I have ever driven on. Truly international!

The condition and up-keep of most of the Himachal roads where I went were in good condition.

The second aspect which caught my attention was the neat and clean “Rain Basera” or Rain Shelter & Bus Bay built every few kilometers on this route. These are something not seen even on national highways or on the pilgrimage routes of Uttarakhand where people flock from all around the country. On my enquiring about its purpose at a small way side shop where I stopped to have a cup of tea, I learnt that these shelters serve a great respite to the localities living in small village’s en-route to Simla where they wait for buses and other transport modes during rainy season. 

“Rain Basera” or Rain Shelter and 

Bus Bay on way to Simla (Photo:Shrey)

The well constructed “Rain Basera’s” approx 12 feet x 8 feet had concrete bench inside for seating. The cleanliness at most of these shelters was unique and needs to be complimented. Usually public properties are ill treated by users but this was not the case here. I am sure their up keep in a joint effort of the public and civic authorities of the government of Himachal Pradesh.

This model of good roads and “Rain Basera” should be recognized and adopted by other States and especially by Uttarakhand on route to the Char Dham yatra for the benefit of the localities and pilgrims alike.