Illegal gates at colonies inconvenience Ludhiana residents

Illegal gates installed at various points in numerous colonies have been inconveniencing residents. While in some colonies, the gates are locked at night, in a few others, these are locked permanently. Many such roads are thoroughfares and act as shortcuts to adjoining areas. However, closed gates were causing an undue hindrance in commuting.

Illegal gates have been put up in most of the localities under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust on grounds of security but the authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the harassment being caused to the public.

The illegally closed main road, which leads to Phase 2 as well as Phase 1 of Urban Estate, Focal Point, Chandigarh Road, is being used as car/scooter/cycle stand by a private school for the past five years.

“This gate was closed at the time of Covid as a precautionary measure but now remains locked under the name of security cover. Residents alleged that the management of USPC Jain Senior Secondary School say that they would not open the gate and cite security as the reason. It is against High Court rulings and main thoroughfare gates cannot be closed during daytime and if these are to be closed during the night, it can’t be closed, and at the most should be opened with a security guard at night,” said DS Reehal, resident of Urban Estate.

He said they had lodged complaints with the officials concerned through e-mails but no action had been taken in this regard. Pictures had also been sent to them but these had failed to awaken the authorities,” he said.

“Installation of a gate on a public street and denying passage to the people is a blatant violation of the law but such “illegal” gates had been put up in most of the localities on the grounds of security. These have become a source of harassment and public nuisance when they are kept closed even during the daytime. The problem also compounds during night hours when visitors or residents find the gates closed,” said Roopa, a resident of Model Town.

A food delivery person, who went to deliver an order at BRS Nagar at night, said he had to go from one lane to another in search of an open gate. “The customer told me that only one gate of the block will be opened and I had a difficult time. A gatekeeper was on duty at one gate and he opened it when I reached the place. It was very annoying,” he said.

Ludhiana Improvement Trust Chairman Tarsem Singh Bhinder said whenever they receive any complaint from residents, they take action against the same. “One complaint was received and the gate was removed,” he said.

However, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Aaditya Dachalwal, could not be reached for comments.

Illegal gates were installed in colonies such as BRS Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Model Town Extension, Kitchlu Nagar, Tagore Nagar, Civil Lines, Rajguru Nagar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.