Nigulseri Trouble: 12 Years of Suffering for Tribals, Farmers, and Hoteliers in Kinnaur and Spiti
SHIMLA/RECONG PEO: It’s been over 12 years, and the 200-meter-long Nigulseri stretch on the Shimla-Rampur-Kinnaur highway continues to haunt the people of Kinnaur and Spiti.
Tourists, locals, apple farmers, and hoteliers have borne the brunt of this bottleneck, and now, the frustration has reached a boiling point.
The Revenue and Horticulture Minister, Jagat Singh Negi, who represents Kinnaur, has been under fire, especially now when the apple season has started and farmers are desperate to sell their produce.
But what do they get? A roadblock. Literally.
For four days, this trouble spot has held thousands of vehicles hostage, stranding tourists and locals alike.
Today commuters remained stranded as Nigulseri was restored for one way traffic, taking hours to reach Rampur and other destinations, rued tourists who are putting scenes of troubled spot on social media.
And while the rainy season is infamous for causing such blockades here, year after year, the authorities seem to have learnt nothing.
They remember Nigulseri during rains when the landslide recur but forget about it rest of the year, resented the Tribals.
The National Highway Authority of India the Border Roads Organization (BRO), the Public Works Department (PWD), and even the tribal leaders have failed to come up with a permanent solution to Nigulseri Trouble.
What's worse? This stretch isn't just a link for tourists or apple traders; it’s the only access to the sensitive Indo-China border and the entire tribal region of Kinnaur and Spiti.
Yet, the Nigulseri stretch has become a recurring nightmare, cutting off these areas from the rest of the country as the entire hill has become a sliding zone.
Due to falling Boulders, many passersby have lost their life, repented the Tribals.
And what about Jagat Singh Negi? He’s been representing Kinnaur for over a decade, but the people are still waiting for a fix to this perpetual problem.
Last year, heavy rains and natural disasters wreaked havoc on the apple and hotel industry.
This year, people hoped for a bounce-back. But thanks to the landslides at Nigulseri, their hopes are dashed again.
Apple farmers say buyers aren't even showing up because of the Nigulseri Trouble point.
The apple harvest has started, but with recurring nightmare at Nigulseri, their produce face transportation issue.
The farmers are staring at huge losses. It’s a repeat of last year’s disaster, and everyone’s had enough.
Hoteliers in Kalpa, Reckong Peo, Spiti, and Sangla are facing the same fate. After July, tourist traffic has slowed to a trickle.
Why? Because the Nigulseri mess has spread like wildfire in the tourism market. Bookings are being canceled left and right, and once-bustling hotels now look deserted. The damage to the local economy is unimaginable.
The BJP leaders in the led by Surat Singh Negi have launched a scathing attack on Jagat Singh Negi, blaming him for failing his people.
They’re not wrong. Despite holding a prominent position as both Revenue and Horticulture Minister, he hasn’t been able to solve the Nigulseri issue.
For the locals, apple farmers, and hoteliers, his inaction is a bitter pill to swallow, commented the farmers.
It’s not like solutions haven’t been discussed. There's talk of an alternative route, bypassing the troubled spot.
But the project is still stuck in the tendering process, and work hasn’t even started yet.
Meanwhile, the resentment keeps building among the people of Kinnaur and Spiti. How long do they have to suffer?
The locals are demanding action. The apple farmers and hoteliers have urged the state government to step up and rebuild confidence among traders and tourists alike.
They need buyers to apple and tourists to come back if they are to survive.
It’s high time the authorities, including the NHAI, BRO, and PWD, sit down and come up with a permanent solution.
This isn't just about convenience—this is about livelihoods, and the people have had enough.
