Riddled with potholes, this stretch lacks streetlights too

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 22

The Pratap Bagh road, one of the busiest routes in the city, is in a state of neglect. Its condition has turned from bad to worse in the last three years, but the authorities seem to be in a deep slumber. Despite several complaints, no step has been taken to minimise hardships being faced by commuters everyday.

The road connects several residential areas with each other, besides being the route to Bhagat Singh Chowk, the railway station and the Ladowali area. Potholes with their margins filled with sand give a hard time to commuters. The concrete used in its construction can’t withstand even light showers. And it is a nightmare to use the route during the monsoon.

Residents of the Pratap Bagh area said the road required immediate repair. The patch work carried out to fill potholes and repair broken stretches did not last even a month due to substandard material and the lack of proper supervision.

Ajay Kohli, a local resident, said the civic body should repair dilapidated roads on a priority basis to prevent fatal accidents.

“The level of the road is uneven. Despite taking up the issue with the authorities on several occasions, nothing has been done so far. There are no streetlights on the route. Many fatal mishaps have been reported in the past. Driving during night hours is a risky affair,” said Kohli.

Goldy Walia, who runs a shop in the area, said the stretch along Food Bazar had been re-carpeted a number of times, but due to substandard material, potholes appeared even after one hour of downpour.

Rita Sharma, area councillor, said the re-carpeting work was likely to be taken up in two-three months as a tender had been floated for the same.

When contacted, Mayor Jagadish Raja also gave an assurance that the issue would be resolved on a priority basis.