Potholes promise bumpy ride to motorists on Jalandhar roads
Avneet Kaur
Jalandhar, March 5
The condition of city roads has deteriorated significantly after the recent spell of heavy rain with deep potholes posing a threat to the safety of commuters. As the election season approaches, residents have started taking to social media, sharing videos and images of the crumbling infrastructure and calling out potential candidates, political parties and officials to address the issue.
Major roads cry for repair
Major roads, including Urban Estate Phase II, Cool road, Bhagat Singh Chowk road, Bus Stand road, Choti Baradari to Garha road, Defence Colony road and Wadala Chowk road have all succumbed to disrepair and are in urgent need of maintenance.
Residents share plight on social media
Preet Multani, a resident, took to the social media to show what Smart City Jalandhar looks like, tagging MP Sushil Rinku. Multani shared images and videos of the condition of the Chhoti Baradari road during the recent rainfall on Saturday. The footage featured a car trapped in a deep pothole, with significant damage visible.
Major roads, including Urban Estate Phase II, Cool road, Bhagat Singh Chowk road, Bus Stand road, Choti Baradari to Garha road, Defence Colony road and Wadala Chowk road have all succumbed to disrepair and are in urgent need of maintenance.
Commuters have criticised the use of sub-standard materials in road construction, attributing the premature decay to this factor. They report numerous accidents and injuries resulting from the hazardous conditions, with countless pits making travel perilous.
Chanpreet Singh, a commuter, expressed disappointment over the lack of improvement in the city’s road infrastructure despite the Municipal Corporation (MC) investing crores in recent years. According to him, the road condition near Cambridge School in Urban Estate Phase-II remains deplorable, characterised by deep potholes.
“Despite repeated temporary fixes and patchwork by the MC, road deteriorates, posing a significant threat to motorists,” he said, while criticising the authorities for their apparent indifference to the issue.
Charanjit Singh said the upcoming elections might prompt some development efforts, but once elected, representatives tend to neglect such issues until the next election comes.
Preet Multani, another resident, took to the social media to show what Smart City Jalandhar looks like, tagging MP Sushil Rinku. Multani shared images and videos of the condition of the Chhoti Baradari road during the recent rainfall on Saturday, depicting the inconvenience faced by commuters. The footage featured a car trapped in a deep pothole, with significant damage visible.
Meanwhile, similar issues plague other roads, where slow progress not only inconveniences commuters but also adversely impacts local businesses.
Expressing frustration, residents called for immediate action from the MC and the district administration to address the longstanding issues plaguing the city’s infrastructure. “As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, we doubt if the authorities will truly make a difference, pointing out that development promises are made only during election times and nothing is done thereafter,” they said.
Despite the ceremonial laying of foundation stones for new projects being underway in the city, fundamental concerns such as proper roads, sewerage systems and waste management remain unaddressed till date, the residents said.
