The pathways taken here should literally be travelled less
Strap: Severely damaged stretches around Lamba Pind chowk pose grave threat to commuters’ livesAjay Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 1
The roads connecting the centrally located Lamba Pind chowk are the ones that should really be taken less – literally – courtesy, the negligent attitude of civic body towards developing new or repairing the existing courses. Hundreds of motorists and commuters on the Lamba Pind chowk, which connects railway station, Jandu Singha and industrial area, have been facing a harrowing time due to the muddy and pebble-ridden stretches. A quick tour reveals the chowk’s pathetic condition at several places and countless pits on the adjoining roads, especially towards the Chugitti bypass road, posing a grave threat to the lives of commuters.
“The road is frequently used by heavy vehicles heading towards PAP, Hoshiarpur, and other districts. And the kutcha stretch is unable to bear the volume of traffic further causing more damage to the road,” says Arjun Singh, a city-based transporter. One could witness heavy traffic on the route. It is majorly used by transporters entering or leaving the city with goods and raw materials. Besides, people heading to Amritsar and Ludhiana also take the same road.
The 1m-long link, connecting the busy GT road with the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road, is also going through the same delinquency. Starting from chowk and going up to a railway overbridge (ROB), it is in dire need of repair for it hasn’t been mended for over two years.
However, the worst of all is the stretch near the intersection where crater-like potholes have developed. “These get filled with rain water during monsoon and have been proving fatal for the motorists, especially for two-wheeler riders who often meet with accidents,” adds Arjun.
The traders of the area also bearing the ill-effects, their businesses have been hampered due to this. Amit Singh, another transporter, who also runs a taxi service near Lamba Pind chowk tells, “The roads here are damaged to such an extent that they don’t even get proper space to park vehicles. Owing to which, we are forced to use the footpaths which are also broken at several corners. The collision of vehicles is a routine scene here and many have lost lives. We have been operating our transport business here from past several years and despite several complaints, there is no end to our woes. Proper levelling of road is one of the main task that needs to be done for smooth flow of traffic,” he suggests.
Satnam Singh, a traffic police in-charge, says, “One of the roads was repaired in the last by-elections, however, the situation is same now. The accident usually occurs due to the concrete and soil spread making it difficult for the commuters to take turns or change directions.” The open and overflowing sewage is yet another problem.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jagadish Raja, says, the tender was framed to reconstruct the roads around Lamba Pind chowk and industrial area and assured that it would be repaired in coming months. “Major portion of the roads at the chowk fall under Public Works Department (PWD) and the stretches that come under the MC would be reviewed and repaired shortly,” he tells.
