Chandigarh, July 31
If the national and state highways and link roads are the lifeline of a state, then Punjab is in a critical condition. Nearly 40 per cent of its important roads, including national and state highways, are in a shambles.
Leave aside a few prestigious roads like the Chandigarh-Patiala, the Chandigarh-Ludhiana, the Chandigarh-Jalandhar, the Rajpura-Jalandhar, the Jalandhar-Tanda, the Adampur-Hoshiarpur and some others which are well maintained, others tell a story of neglect and apathy of the state administration. It is not only roads but also bridges which are in a state of neglect, posing serious threats to vehicle owners and other road users.
An extensive survey conducted by The Tribune reporters reveals that many places, even those roads which were repaired during the past one year, have been rendered unsafe for vehicular traffic. In most of the cases, the top bitumen layer has come off thus, making the road surface vulnerable for crates and potholes which because of ongoing monsoon have been becoming bigger and dangerous. Some have already turned out to be deathtrap for unsuspecting drivers who land in these cesspool overflowing with accumulated rainwater.
A cross-section of people with whom Tribune reporters interacted during the survey were critical of various agencies entrusted with the maintenance and upgradation of roads in the state. “How come new roads or roads with fresh crust of premix develop huge pot holes and depressions within a few weeks or months. Is there any quality control in place? Is anyone held accountable for such lapses ?, they ask.
Some even wonder about the priorities of the government. “What is the use of spending crores of rupees on repair and renovation of offices, rest houses and
bungalows of ministers when a common man feels unsafe while driving on the potholed roads in the state. Roads in Punjab have become the single largest killer and no one is paying any attention to it. All we read in newspapers is about foundation stone-laying ceremonies of new roads and bridges. But in reality nothing is happening on the ground, rued Mr Lakha Singh, a transport owner.
Road network in various districts of Malwa has also been a victim of government apathy and fund
crunch. The Kotkapura bypass, which leads to Muktsar, in Moga has been in a dismal shape for the past many years. There is hardly any stretch of on this section which can be called a road.
The truck unions of Moga and Baghapurana had contributed Rs 50,000 each for repair work, but it hardly made any difference and the road remains the same. Another road that has been inconveniencing the Moga residents is the Moga-Amritsar road. A 17-km stretch of this road falling under the district’s limits has been crying for attention for long. This potholed road has also witnessed some accidents in the past.
Similarly, the Kot Ise Khan-Dharamkot, the Dharamkot-Sidhwan Bet, the Baghapurana-Nihalsinghwala, and the Baghapurana-Mudki roads, are in a bad shape. In Mansa, the 40-km stretch between Sardulgarh and Mansa has been in the state of utter neglect, though sources say repair work in the recent past has improved its condition to some extent. Similar is the state of the Mansa-Budhlada road. The condition of the Malwa-Barnala road in the district’s limits can be gauged from the fact that a bridge connecting both places is awaiting its construction for the last few years and the traffic passes through a diversion.
An 18-km stretch of the Faridkot-Sadik road has been awaiting re-construction. Similarly, the Kotkapura-Muktsar and the Kotkapura-Moga roads are in a shambles. The scenario is no different in the hub of Malwa–Bathinda. The repair work on the Bathinda-Muktsar road was in full swing on the day martyrdom tercentenary of 40 muktas was being celebrated in Muktsar a couple of months ago. The stretch of Buladhewala to Bhisiana needs immediate re-construction. The road is again bad in parts leading up to Muktsar. The Bathinda-Kotkapura road via Jaito has been badly damaged at various points, which leads to waterlogging in rainy season, forcing vehicles to pass through the bumpy roadside or link roads. Similarly, the Bathinda-Mansa and the Bathinda-Barnala roads are damaged in parts.
People of Muktsar have been left disappointed time again by successive state governments, as except for repair works nothing has been done to improve the state of roads. The condition of the Muktsar-Malout road is worst and on top of that it is too narrow. Though vehicles can’t ply on this road with speed enough to cause mishaps, loaded tractor-trolleys at times overturn, as the road didn’t have soil on both sides that leads to imbalance. The Muktsar-Jalalabad and Muktsar-Guru Har Sahay roads are in bad shape.
The Ferozepore-Muktsar and the Ferozepore-Faridkot roads have been awaiting re-construction for the last many years and what have been done only patchwork. The Ferozepore-Zira road leaves it to the judgment of users to whether call it a road or not.
With some exceptions, stretches of national highways, state highways and most of link roads in Jalandhar district are in a pitiable state for want of proper repair and maintenance.
The recently redone National Highway 71 from Jalandhar-Nakodar to Moga is in good condition. It has certain patches like Nakodar, Malsian, Shahkot and Dharamkot, where drivers feel uncomfortable for potholes or uneven stretches indicating poor maintenance.
Interestingly, the Jalandhar-Moga Road, which, was repaid and repaired at certain places about six months ago, had to be redone as the top layer of asphalt and other material peeled of within days of its relaying.
The condition of the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur National Highway 70 is worse from Rama Mandi to Adampur township. Interestingly, it was opened for traffic early this year after its repair, which, continued for about two years. The biggest irritant is the stretch between Rama Mandi in Jalandhar and Adampur. It has uneven surface near Jandu Singha and Madaraan villages.
Though the Adampur-Hoshiarpur road is well maintained but the stretch from Alawalpur to Bhogpur is almost non-existent. Same is the state of the link road passing through the Jalandhar city leading to Nakodar, Noormahl and Phillaur via Mithapur. The Jalandhar-Tanda stretch of the National Highway-1-A has turned out to be one of excellent roads upto Bhogpur for completion of its four-laning. The Nakodar-Kapurthala road, which was to become part of National Highway 75 shortly, was also lying neglected near Uggi-Chitti and Mallian villages.
Growing emphasis on improving relations with Pakistan notwithstanding, the Amritsar-Wagah road, the only road link with Pakistan, is a perfect picture of apathy and neglect. Both sides of road have been encroached upon by those enjoying political patronage.
The five-kilometre stretch of a state highway from Taranwala Bridge, is in a shambles with large pot holes. The only road linking the holy city with Jammu and Kashmir is in mess. The condition of Amritsar off shoot roads is the worst. The Jandiala Guru-Tarn Taran Road, 24 km of the Tarn Taran — Goindwal road, the Tarn Taran — Jhabbal road, Amritsar-Dera baba Nanak, the Amritsar-Mehta Road are poorly maintained roads.
Mr Tarsem Singh, a retired headmaster and social worker, said it takes two hours to cover the 16 km stretch of the Jandiala Guru-Tarn Taran road.
The Sangrur-Malerkotla-Ludhiana, the Barnala-Raikot and Patran-Moonak roads — all state highways — and the Mehlan-Sulargharat and Sangrur-Patran stretches of National Highway-71 are in bad state.
Though the Sangrur-Patiala road is in a good condition, a stretch of this National Highway-71 from Mehlan village to Sulargharat village (near Dirba), is badly damaged with huge potholes and cracks in it.
As far as the condition of majority of the state highways passing through Sangrur is concerned, little said is better. Majority of the people are dissatisfied as they face a lot of difficulties.
The Patran-Moonak road also tells a tale of neglect and indifference of the state PWD towards road users of the district. Likewise, the Patran-Moonak road, the Barnala-Raikot road, are other examples of neglect. A portion of the Bhawanigarh-Nabha Road, which falls in Sangrur, is also in bad shape as there are potholes and cracks at several places, including near Alloarkh village.
— With inputs from Preneet Singh (Bathinda, Muktsar, Moga and Ferozepore), Varinder Singh (Jalandhar), Sanjay Bumbroo and Pawan Kumar (Amritsar) and Sushil Goyal (Sangrur).
