Lower Mall Road in Nainital remains closed to traffic

The lower Mall Road in Nainital has remained closed to traffic after a 25 metre stretch of the road subsided into the Naini lake on August 18. On Monday, labourers laid netting and flood control geobags to hold the sandbags placed earlier to prevent further subsidence of the road. About 1,000 sandbags have been placed at the site though the risk of further subsidence cannot be fully ruled out yet, State observers.

Meanwhile, the authorities concerned have approved Rs 23.79 lakh for temporary road construction against the Rs 58 lakh sought for the purpose. The Public Works Department will not initiate the tender process on Tuesday. According to departmental sources, the temporary road construction works is expected to take about a fortnight. Working at this site is difficult especially after rise in the level of water in the lake. Apart from this, water overflowing due to the sewer line on upper Mall Road being choked also poses problems for this stretch of the lower Mall Road.