This potholed stretch gives jitters to commuters

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 1

Hundreds of Sikh devotees visiting the holy city make it a point to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh belonging to the legendary Sikh warrior Shaheed Baba Deep Singh. Besides devotees from outside the city, local people also throng the shrine in huge numbers daily. However, they express their dismay over the condition of the outer circular road, especially the stretch from Sultanwind Gate to the holy shrine.

The stretch is dotted with big potholes. A vendor selling fruits said due to lots of potholes, the road has become highly accident-prone.

“As the civic body authorities have failed to repair the stretch, some people fill the potholes with debris. Most of the two-wheeler riders fear to pass this stretch as they know they can lose control of their bikes/scooters and fall. Many people had a narrow escape while others suffered injuries in the past,” he said.

“Though a road accident takes place almost daily here, the MC authorities hardly think of repairing the stretch,” said vendor Manish Kumar. Raminder Singh, a regular visitor to the shrine, points out that roads are in a deplorable condition at many points.

Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh is situated near the Chatiwind gate near Tarn Taran Road Chowk. Baba Deep Singh, the first head of the Shaheed misl, is revered as one of great Sikh martyres. He was the first head of Damdami Taksal. He was baptised by 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh in Anandpur Sahib and spent a considerable time with him in learning how to use weaponry and other Sikh martial arts. In 1757, when Afghan prince Taimur Shah and his general Jahan Khan desecrated the Golden Temple, he vowed to avenge it. He led an army and fought a fierce battle with Afghans in Amritsar in which he was decapitated and attained martyrdom.

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu said the beautification of the outer circular was already underway under the Smart City project worth Rs 125 crore. He said all works would be done under the project. As far as filling the potholes on the stretch was concerned, I would look into it.