Roads get new look for Trudeau’s visit

Manmeet Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 19

Ahead of the arrival of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the district administration is on toes to give the city a new look. A drive was taken up today to spruce up city roads, particularly those Trudeau is scheduled to pass through.

From painting fresh stripes on roundabouts and roadsides to installing flag posts, workers were seen engrossed in works assigned to them to make city roads presentable to the visiting dignitary and his entourage.

According to Dr Raju Chowan, Municipal Health Officer, “Such works are taken up routinely, not just before the arrival of VIPs. Efforts are being made to ensure cleanliness as a Swachh City ranking team of the Centre is here to assess the city on the basis of certain parameters.”

Talking about his today’s experience, a city resident, Jagtar Singh, said he was surprised to see MC workers levelling a portion of a road near Novelty Chowk that had been turned into almost a pit due to installation of a sewerage manhole. It had been troubling commuters for months.

A tilted traffic signal post at Rialto Chowk, which had been in such a state for months, too, was fixed today. Residents said Canadian PM’s visit has proven to a blessing for the city residents as many meagre issues have been addressed which earlier were being overlooked by the civic body as well as the district administration.

Another resident, Himmat Singh, said, “Visits by VVIPs result in proper sanitation with the city getting a new look. Earlier, during Prime Minister’s visit to the city, roads of the area surrounding Golden Temple were recarpeted overnight.”

He said it was good that the local administration had been working to impress the foreign dignitaries. “But these efforts should be made a routine,” he added.