Streetlights fail to light up Bathinda-Malout flyover

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 11

It has been six months since the Bathinda-Malout flyover, on which the government had spent Rs 72.40 crore, was opened to commuters.

Along this 1-km-long flyover, a number of streetlights have been provided for the convenience of commuters. Sadly, the authorities have so far not provided power connection to these streetlights for reasons best known to them.

Owing to this factor, several accidents and several cases of theft have happened here in the recent past. Maybe the authorities are waiting for a tragedy to spur them to take action in this regard.

A number of commuters say that it is not necessary that everyone has a car or a bike. A majority of commuters include cyclists for whom it is very difficult to pass this flyover with no streetlight on. The authorities concerned should keep this in mind.

Raja, a shopkeeper, said, “In the evening, we go in groups to avoid a mishap along this stretch. But, it is not always possible to go in groups.”

Sukhbir Singh, a resident, said, “A number of accidents have been reported here in the recent past. We have brought this problem to the notice of the Municipal Corporation many times, but to no avail.”

Mandeep Singh, a commuter, said, “It is not necessary to know whether accidents are occurring or not. If the government has provided streetlights then why they are not getting these connected to power supply.

On the other hand, officials of the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) and the Public Works Department, Building and Road (PWD-B&R) say that providing power connection to the streetlights doesn’t comes under their purview.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said, “I am aware of the problem, but it comes under the purview of PWD-B&R Department.” PWD-B&R XEN Kulbir Sandhu said, “To provide power connection to the Bathinda-Malout flyover streetlights comes under the MCB purview. We have already sent them a notice regarding this problem.”