Potholes, slush on Ballabgarh-Sohna state highway take toll on commuters
The government’s claims on infrastructure and growth fall flat when one traverses the half-a-kilometre-long strectch of the Ballabgarh-Sohna state highway here, which has become a daily ordeal for the commuters. It continues to remain in a shabby condition despite the collection of toll from the commuters. More than 50,000 vehicles reportedly use the highway daily.
“Despite being a toll road, the condition of the passage connecting Ballabgarh and Sohna of Gurugram remains deplorable. No repairs have been taken up in the past about two years,” says Umesh Kumar, a resident, adding that the stretch between Nangla and Pali villages connecting Ballabgarh flyover and Pali T-point, having a length of around 500 metres, is in a poor shape due to the drainage issue. The failure to fix the problem of drainage and carry out repairs had left the commuters harassed.
Charging authorities of utter negligence, Om Prakash Bhadana, another commuter,says the stretch has become a nightmare to commute as no thought has been spared to ensure the proper drainage of waste water from the nearby village. Even as the stretch remains waterlogged and damaged, he says, no action has been taken against the erring officials. The slush and potholes pose a constant risk of accidents and traffic snarls, he adds.
The Faridabad Industries Association (FIA) has also taken up the matter with the authorities, says an entrepreneur, who claims that it has adversely affected the movement of the commercial and goods vehicles. “Collection or revision of toll on damaged roads is unjustified,” he says, adding that it is an important road between Faridabad and Gurugram, the leading commercial hubs.
Neeraj Sharma, former MLA from NIT Assembly segment, who had raised the matter in the Assembly and in the District Grievance Committee in 2021, says despite directions of the state government the problem stands unresolved. While several crores have been collected as toll, the commuters have failed to get any relief,” he rues. The 32-km-long road built on a BOT basis was opened in 2012. The toll charge varies between Rs 40 and Rs 400 per vehicle for one way, depending upon the type of vehicle. The toll was revised on all the state highways recently.
Charanjit Rana, Executive Engineer, PWD says as the problem is related to the disposal of waste water on the road, the matter has been taken up with the District Development and Panchayat Officer, Faridabad. A resolution in this regard is expected soon.
