Rs 4 cr green belt project under flyovers in ruins due to neglect

The green belt developed under flyovers in Amritsar has deteriorated due to poor maintenance and neglect by the authorities. The Municipal Corporation had invested Rs 4 crore in 2019 to revamp the space under elevated roads, completing the project in May 2021. A significant portion of the funds came from the Smart City initiative, which included the installation of 2,000 LED lights on the ceilings under the Bhandari Bridge, Taranwala Pul and Kachehri Chowk flyovers.

The project also involved the installation of 101 ground-embedded lights, decorative lanterns on posts, interlocking pavers, an upgraded drainage system, landscaping, horticultural work and the construction of planter walls and designer guard rails. However, despite the substantial investment, these areas have fallen into disrepair due to a lack of maintenance and administrative neglect.

Stray cows, illegal parking and the homeless have taken over these spaces, leaving them unkempt and unused as originally intended. Although the Municipal Corporation provides shelter facilities at the Gol Bagh Shelter Home, many homeless individuals prefer to remain under the flyovers, setting up makeshift shelters instead.

Local residents are concerned about the poor upkeep of the area. Rajinder Singh, a shopkeeper near the civil hospital here, remarked, “The government spent a huge amount on beautification, but now it has turned into a mess. Stray animals roam freely and garbage is piling up.”

Residents are calling on the authorities to take immediate action to restore the spaces, ensuring proper maintenance and enforcement of regulations to prevent encroachments. Another resident, Ravi Sharma, said, “At night, these areas become unsafe due to poor lighting and illegal activities. We expected the project to improve our city, but it feels like a waste of money.”