Rain takes a toll on bypass road at Vallah
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 12
A major portion of the road was damaged after the accumulation of rainwater outside Vallah village on the bypass here on Monday. As the main road has been closed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the construction of a bridge, traffic is diverted to the side lanes.
Owing to heavy traffic and overloaded trucks, the service lane has been damaged due to the accumulation of rainwater on the road. In the absence of timely repair, the condition of the 100-mtr-long damaged road has worsened, leading to deep craters on the road. Resultantly, two-wheeler drivers have to brave a bumpy drive down the potholed road filled with rainwater.
Residents of Vallah village are the worst sufferers, who have no alternative road to reach the city. Owing to potholes, traffic on the main bypass road moves at a slow pace. During the peak hours, the stretch sees long traffic jams. Devotees, who visit the historic Guru Teg Bahadur gurdwara at Vallah village face inconvenience due to the damaged road. The residents have demanded from NHAI authorities to relay the road stretch until the main bypass road is open to traffic.
“Authorities have diverted traffic to the side lanes of the bypass after the beginning of the construction work on the bridge. Owing to heavy traffic, side lanes have been badly damaged. Now rainwater has almost washed away the upper layer of the road. The NHAI should provide a good alternative road so that commuters do not face inconvenience. Both side lanes should be re-carpeted,” said Davinder Singh, a resident of Vallah.
“The business of shopkeepers at Vallah has been adversely affected due to regular traffic jams and damaged road. The authorities should complete the project and recarpet the side lanes,” said Ravi, a shopkeeper.
