Chock-a-block: Stretch from Chatiwind to Sultanwind Gate a nightmare for commuters

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 11

Uninterrupted flow of vehicles, heavy footfall, widespread encroachments and random parkings. All hell has broken loose for long at the stretch extending from the Chatiwind Gate to Sultanwind Gate.

The course is a vital one as it houses popular Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib, Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable hospital, educational institutes apart from government offices and a police station. As large number of devotees frequent the shrine — the number is doubled on weekends — they park their vehicles in the space provided by the SGPC. Till then there’s no problem. However, once it is full the devotees take to the roadside, duly doing their part in creating a mess.

Harpinder Singh Walia, a daily visitor of the shrine, said: “Traffic chaos on the road in general and outside the shrine in particular is acute and needs to be addressed accordingly.”

The road receives an unending flow of vehicles throughout the day. Since it is a two-lane separated by a divider, the stream of traffic hardly takes a break. Heavy vehicles like buses, trucks, tippers and trolleys are always on the move.

“The stretch also leads to the Bhagtanwala grain market. So, rush of tractor-trolleys laden with grains during the harvesting season is a common sight,” said Harbhajan Singh, a shopkeeper. He added: “A large number of handcarts are parked on both roadsides, choking it mercilessly. And the number swells on the weekend.”

It is pertinent to mention that the Municipal Corporation in its 2009-2010 budget had proposed construction of subways at key intersections in the city with an investment of Rs 20 crore. However, even a single subway is yet to be seen in the city. The residents of the area have demanded setting up one here, at least, to provide safe passage for the devotees.

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