Himmatnagar: The locals of Raygadh village in Himatnagar taluka of Sabarkantha district blocked the highway on 28th September- Wednesday protesting slow pace of progress of ongoing Himatnagar-Shamlaji National Highway No 8 widening work and related pending issues.

The locals protested by stopping the vehicle transportation on the road from 8 am to 11 am on Wednesday. They had put stones as barriers on the road. It caused traffic issues on the road. As per the locals and merchants of Raygadh, the work of the National Highway passing through the village is pending for years. They complained that the dust and small particles of stones fly and enter into the shops located at both sides of the road due to the same. They complained that the shopkeepers have to cover the shops with curtains due to the constantly entering dust particles. So, the customers go away by looking at the curtains, despite the shop being open, they added.

Gambhoi police arrived at the spot after learning about the protest by locals. The locals said that the road work should be quickly completed and the water should be showered on both sides of the road till the work is not completed. The police conveyed it to the contractor of the road. They agreed to fulfil the demand of showering water on the road. The locals ended the Rasta Roko protest at 11 am. DeshGujarat