Non-functional streetlights in Focal Point raise safety fears
Focal Point and Focal Point Extension, the city’s vital industrial hub, have been left in complete darkness with all streetlights being out of order, posing serious safety concerns amid the festive season.
The lack of lighting on roads connecting Focal Point to the national highway and Gadaipur has created an atmosphere of fear, particularly for workers walking home at night. Inside the bustling industrial area, workers find some comfort in the crowds, but once they step onto the deserted roads outside, the absence of streetlighting leaves them unsafe.
“With the festive season in full swing, the risk of crime is amplified. It created fear among the workforce and business owners alike”, said an industrialist.
Originally developed in the 1990s by the Punjab Small Industry and Export Corporation, Focal Point was designed with top-notch infrastructure, including proper roads, parks and streetlighting. However, years of neglect have left the area in disrepair.
“Now under the management of the Municipal Corporation, the area’s deteriorating condition, particularly the broken streetlights and poor roads, has only increased the urgency of the situation,” said Rajan Sharda, an industrialist. He said although private security and the police had collaborated to maintain safety in the area, the lack of lighting continued to undermine these efforts. Workers and residents were calling for immediate action to restore the streetlights, especially during this busy period when safety concerns are at an all-time high.
The Jalandhar Industrial Focal Point Extension Association has already presented the area’s maintenance issues to the MC, highlighting not just the streetlights, but also problems with sewerage and overall cleanliness.
Meanwhile, MC officials claimed that the repair of non-functional streetlights, be it in the Focal Point area or other localities, is already underway in the city. They said the company responsible for its repair has also been fined for the delay in the repair work.
