Residents seek redressal of road safety issues, write to MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 11

City residents sought follow up of the pending National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issues from MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla for which Minister Nitin Gadkari had given assurance in the Question Hour session during the last Parliament session.

Office-bearers of Amritsar Vikas Manch wrote to MP Aujla on current status from NHAI officials for installation of streetlights on the bypass section of NH-3 Amritsar road. “The Minister of Road Transport and Highways had replied to Aujla’s question in last Lok Sabha session for early redressal of Amritsar bypass street lighting issue as well as redressal of important road safety measures on the stretch by installing safety blinkers/cat eyes along with approval for elevated road stretch over Gumtala-Amritsar Airport section.

A tender for streetlights had floated a few months ago. However, it seems this will need a strong push by the MP to get the project started. So, we have written to the MP to follow up with the department concerned and officers,” said Yogesh Kamra, secretary, Amritsar Vikas Manch.

Many major accidents have accelerated in recent months and with the onset of winters dense fog on this stretch will aggravate poor visibility further on this bypass stretch. The residents of localities including Holy City, Swiss City, Guru Gobind Singh Avenue, Guru Amardass Avenue, Jhujhar Singh Avenue, Gumtala Village, Loharka Road, Ranjit Avenue, Guru Nanak Dev University use the NH-1 for daily commuting and millions of tourists and visitors use the same road for SGRDJ International Airport, Attari – Wagah Indo-Pak border, Ram Tirath, War Memorial, Saada Pind and Amrit Anand Park.

Furthermore, the demand for six laning of Amritsar bypass section from Dhilwan to Attari along with poor upkeep of Amritsar-Pathankot NH-54 section and removal of identified major blackspots on NH-3 was also raised in the Lok Sabha session by the MP. In reply to MP’s question, transport minister had assured to take up these issues on priority.

“We requested to take up these issues with Chairman NHAI or concerned officials for early implementation of installation of road lights across the entire bypass stretch along with redressal of other pending issues expeditiously,” added secretary AVM.