An important passage here has a whole lot of holes

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 9

The four-lane stretch between Verka Bypass Chowk to the Golden Gate, situated on the Amritsar-Jalandhar road, has worn out. With countless potholes and cracks appearing on the surface, it can hardly be termed as a road.

Being a shortcut to the Attari-Wagah joint check post and connecting with Mehta, Majitha, Batala, Fatehgarh Churiyan and Ramtirath bypass, a large number of heavy vehicles frequent this nearly 2-km stretch which has further hastened its disintegration.

Apparently, it offers a tough time to motorists damaging their vehicles and leading to potential mishaps. “It has caused swift wear and tear to vehicles,” confirms Raminderjit Singh, a resident of Anmol Avenue.

The stretch is part of the ambitious four-lane project which connected the centuries old GT road with the Attari-Wagah JCP. As per its objective, the four-lane stretch provides a shorter transit route to cargo ferrying trucks and tourists. It is obvious saves them from the city’s bottlenecks.

GS Bedi, a resident of Ranjit Avenue, said the stretch is a part of the wider road under two toll plazas from Nijjarpura to Khasa village. A vehicle owner has to shell out Rs40 to and fro. “Had the concerned agency repaired the condition timely it would have increased the longevity of the stretch. Now, it will have to re-carpet the entire course,” he adds.

Jaspreet Singh, who is a regular taker, said a large number of residential colonies have also sprung up on this stretch, making it a harrowing experience for all. “The four-lane road offered trouble-free mobility to the residents. However, its deplorable condition and too long a period to repair belie the tall claims of the authorities,” Singh explains.

Sunil Yadav, Project Director of the NHAI here, said renewal of bitumen concrete of the stretch was due and would soon be taken up.