Waterlogging at Daburji, Vallah riles commuters

Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 30 A day after heavy rain, commuters on the outer city roads were hoping for a smoother journey. However, commuters’ hopes were dashed as waterlogging and flooding of GT Road in Daburji and bypass road...

Charanjit Singh Teja

Updated At : 10:34 AM Aug 31, 2024 IST

Vehicles pass through an inundated road at Vallah in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Sunil Kumar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 30

A day after heavy rain, commuters on the outer city roads were hoping for a smoother journey. However, commuters’ hopes were dashed as waterlogging and flooding of GT Road in Daburji and bypass road in Vallah led to massive traffic jams causing frustration and chaos among them.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed on both sides of roads. Some commuters entered Kahankot village to avoid traffic jams, but their vehicles got stuck there on broken roads.

The role of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is under scanner for its inability to prevent such situations. “It’s unacceptable that the authorities didn’t take adequate measures to prevent waterlogging on the national highway. The road leads to international airport. Air passengers coming from Jalandhar and other cities got stuck in jams for hours. We’re paying the price for their negligence,” said Satnam Singh, a cab driver who got stranded in a long traffic jam.

To prevent inconvenience to commuters, the police have advised truckers to avoid the route and issued a diversion plan. “We’re doing our best to manage the traffic, but the situation in challenging,” said a police official on duty.

“Heavy vehicles including trucks heading towards Gurdaspur should take an alternative route via Rayya, Beas, Hargobindpur and Batala. Trucks coming from Jalandhar to the holy city should come via Beas, Baba Bakala and Mehta Road,” said Harpal Singh, ADCP (Traffic).

The NHAI has been constructing overbridges since the past two years. The traffic has been diverted from side lanes along bridges, where rainwater has accumulated. The side lanes are narrow and already damaged. Several vehicles got stuck there last night.