Despite hundreds of crores spent rebuilding roads/drains under the Smart City Mission, Dharamshala's new covered drainage is too narrow, incorrectly sloped and cable-obstructed, causing uncontrolled rainwater flow every monsoon, replacing older open drains that handled both drainage and irrigation.
On record
The official record states: "Not specified — no official statement defended the design; residents attribute it to poor drainage design and lack of maintenance."
Filed as "Under repeat repair — new drains failing every monsoon" and dated to Smart City works ongoing since ~2016; failing as of Sept 2025, this entry sits under the "Over ₹500 crore spent on the Smart City project overall" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A surface that renegotiates its shape with every monsoon.
- Potholes deep enough to have their own microclimate.
- Freshly laid tar, laid with real optimism.
- A resurfacing crew that will, in time, return.
Sourcing
1 public source — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“Foundation laid, expectations raised, matter closed.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
Visitor reviews
“Came out on the recommendation of a very sarcastic travel blog. It quietly outlived its own justification.”
“Went to check whether the 'temporarily closed' sign had aged. Officially it is progressing; physically it is weathering.”
“Arrived expecting scaffolding and was not let down. The ribbon outlasted the resolve, and you can tell.”