Poor condition of Ludhiana roads haunts residents

Dilapidated roads of the city pose a grave threat to the safety of motorists and pedestrians. The recent rains have made the conditions worse, leaving the roads in an urgent need of repair.

Although the municipal corporation invested Rs 3.86 crore in procuring two new pothole patching machines that use an infra-red recycling technology to fix potholes, it seems like the time-consuming procedure is taking a toll on it and the machine is not put to use frequently. The road leading to the iconic Clock Tower is broken and because the railway station is also located on it, scores of people use the road daily.

Jashan Aggarwal, who goes to his workplace through a train daily, said, “The condition of the Clock Tower road is really bad. A railway station is the identity of any city as people from all parts of the country come there, but what impression of Ludhiana must they be getting after walking out of the station as the roads are broken? The authorities concerned should get the road repaired at the earliest.”

Rajan Chopra, a shopkeeper on Minerva Cinema road, said the recent rains had further deteriorated the condition of the roads. “This is an old area of the city but an important part nonetheless, and the road here must be repaired,” he said.

The situation is the same as one moves towards the Jalandhar by-pass. People travelling to the city by road from other cities, including Jalandhar, Amritsar and Nawashahar, enter the city through this road, but like the railway station road, it too is in a shoddy condition.

“So much money is spent on various projects in the city, but the basic facility of a smooth road is neglected. After rainfall, the condition worsens,” said another city resident.

Similarly, the condition of Ferozepur road is deplorable, where the road is worn out after waterlogging after the rains. “This portion of the road sank a little last year and during monsoon, many accidents occur here due to this,” said a street vendor.