This is an archive article published on October 31, 2022
Tourists love Mcleodganj, but Himachal Pradesh govt doesn’t: rue voters of hill town
The stakeholders of tourism industry rue that the hill town had a footfall of about 5 million every year but lack of proper parking, bad roads, poor management of traffic and poor garbage disposal were the issues that hit the tourists as well as the industry.
In Mcleodganj, the most famous tourist spot in Kangra district, associated with the Dalai Lama, lack of amenities, government apathy, traffic congestion and bad roads form a political issue ahead of Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
The stakeholders of tourism industry rue that the hill town had a footfall of about 5 million every year but lack of proper parking, bad roads, poor management of traffic and poor garbage disposal were the issues that hit the tourists as well as the industry. They say the successive government had not paid much attention to the town so as to make the tourism a hassle-free-experience.
Rohit Kumar, a resident of Gaggal village, who runs a taxi service in Mcleodganj said that bad roads was such a problem that it was difficult to ferry the tourists, “This time it is the tourist season but see the condition of roads. The road linking Dharamshala with Mcleolganj is in bad shape. There are huge craters. Then the roads in the main bazar are dug up. Those are being laid afresh now. It was promised that these roads would be ready in 20 days. But it has been over 60 days now that the work is still continuing,” he said.
He added, “They have laid 1,000 foundation stones of various works across the state. But where is the development? Those who visit Mcleodganj once, fear coming back to the place second time even though it is a heaven for the tourists, given the beauty of majestic mountains nestling the hill station.”
Nazeer Ahmad, a shopkeeper who runs Royal Colours store in the main market said that parking was such an issue that the taxis and tourists vehicles were parked on the both sides of the main road. “Sometimes, it takes more than half an hour to cover a small patch of road to get out of the town. One is stuck. Congestion is not the only issue but just see the vehicles with their engines on that spew venomous fumes in the environment.”
He added that the government had come up with a solution to reduce congestion by bringing a ropeway, “But it only works from 10 am to 5 pm. The tourists in luxury buses start pouring in at 7 am. The whole exercise turns futile. Then the tariff of ropeway for every person is Rs 2200 which burns a hole in tourists pocket while a taxi takes Rs 1000 to bring tourists from Dharamshala to the town.”
The hotel and restaurant association of Dharamshala also complains that tourism was on the last on the priority list of the government.
Sitting MLA of BJP from the segment, Vishal Nehria said that there were certain people who were trying to downplay the work done by the government. “We have laid foundation stones of projects worth Rs 1,000 crore in the state. Such is the magnitude of development. Roads and bridges are being constructed to smoothen the traffic flow. Development takes its own time. Such projects cannot be completed overnight. We have given the town a ropeway worth Rs 240 crore. It will take some time for things to run smoothly.”
Rakesh Chaudhary, BJP nominee from the Dharamshala constituency as Mcleodganj falls in the segment, said that there were some “Congress minded” individuals in hotel association that were levelling all kinds of allegations.
“It is only Opposition agenda. The roads are being recarpeted and widened. Soon all these problems would be over. The government has paid all the attention to the tourism industry.”
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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