Jalandhar residents doubt infrastructure upgrade even after Mohinder Bhagat’s induction
Even though Jalandhar West MLA Mohinder Bhagat has been inducted into the Punjab Cabinet on Monday, city residents remain doubtful about any improvement in the city’s crumbling road infrastructure. They cite lack of progress under former Local Bodies Minister Balkar Singh, also from Jalandhar, as a reason for their skepticism, noting that little was done to enhance civic amenities during his tenure.
Several key roads in the city, including Bus Stand Road, Railway Station Road near the Damoria flyover, Chuggitti Road near Guru Nanak Pura Public Park and Focal Point Road, have been crying for repairs, causing frustration among commuters, but the authorities remain unmoved. Shopkeepers along the Bus Stand Road expressed dismay over the lack of repairs, saying that the road had been in a terrible state for months now.
“There was some patchwork done recently, but it didn’t hold for long. The rains have made things worse, and now large potholes have appeared, making it dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians,” said one shopkeeper.
Chuggitti Road, a major route for traffic heading toward Amritsar, has become a concern for residents. A commuter, Kamlesh Singh, described the road as “full of potholes and uneven surfaces” and said despite the heavy traffic it was handling daily, it hasn’t seen proper repairs in years. “People prefer this route to avoid the Jalandhar Cantt route, but the condition of the road is just getting worse,” he added.
Another resident, Manjeet Kaur, also raised concerns about the state of the city’s infrastructure. “After Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann promised substantial funds for improvement infrastructure following the Jalandhar West bypoll win, little progress has been visible. It’s been two months since the CM’s announcement, but we haven’t seen any real action on the ground,” Kaur said.
She also pointed to the ongoing issues like non-functional streetlights, overflowing sewage and inadequate waste management, all of which remain unresolved.
The residents blamed this state of affairs on the dissolution of the MC. “At least the councillors were approachable and they used to take up our issues with the MC Commissioner or officials concerned. Now, it’s difficult to get in touch with anyone from the MC,” residents complained.
MC Commissioner Gautam Jain said they were waiting for the rainy season to end before starting the repair work. He added that the officials concerned have been instructed to take necessary action.
