Potholes, rain add to chaos on GT Road service lane Outside New Amritsar

Recent rainfall has further worsened the condition of the service lane along GT Road outside New Amritsar, leading to severe traffic congestion and daily inconvenience for commuters. The service lane is currently handling diverted traffic as construction of a flyover is underway on the main carriageway.

With the main road partially blocked due to ongoing construction, vehicles are being routed through the already damaged service lane, which is riddled with potholes. The recent rains have aggravated the situation, causing waterlogging and making commuting even more difficult.

Residents said that people travelling in and out of the city are facing immense hardship due to simultaneous construction work on major connecting routes. Localities situated along Jalandhar Road and Mehta Road have been particularly affected, as both key routes are under construction, leaving commuters with limited options to access the city.

On one side, the Vallah Bypass bridge project has reportedly been stalled for the past five years, while on the other, a new flyover is being constructed near New Amritsar. As a result, heavy traffic congestion is being witnessed from both ends. Motorists stuck in long queues often divert through residential streets, causing further inconvenience to residents of nearby colonies.

The flyover project outside Bhai Gurdas Ji Nagar was inaugurated by Harbhajan Singh ETO on July 21 last year. The project, aimed at connecting the East and South Assembly constituencies along the Amritsar-Jalandhar highway, is estimated to cost Rs 39.85 crore and is scheduled for completion within two years.

However, residents have raised concerns over the lack of proper maintenance of alternative routes. They alleged that the construction company has not paid adequate attention to repairing diversion roads, which are in poor condition and pose risks to commuters. Entry and exit routes to New Amritsar have also been restricted, adding to the difficulties.

Gurmeet Singh, a local resident, said that while development work is necessary, the government should ensure that alternative routes are properly maintained alongside construction to avoid public inconvenience.