Iron grills along roads go missing in city

Amritsar, August 14

Iron grills installed alongside the BRTS tracks are being stolen in the city. These were installed to demarcate the BRTS stretch from the main road and the slip roads.

While the missing grills have defeated the purpose of regulating traffic and restricting the movements of pedestrians at places except designated crossing points, the authorities concerned are oblivious to the theft.

A city resident, Kulwinder Singh, said, “People and the administration are insensitive to the loss of public property. A huge amount of money was spent on these grills but now these are at mercy of thieves. People too should protect public properties as it is for their use.”

Besides, several grills have been broken by nearby shopkeepers and residents to make crossing points. These broken grills can also be seen lying on roadsides at many places. “The administration should protect the grills which are lying on roadsides as these too will be stolen by miscreants,” said another resident, Jagtar Singh.

Residents allege that the theft of iron grills is the handiwork of drug addicts. “Scrap dealers buy any iron material for Rs 25-30 per kg. A drug addict, finding it hard to generate money, can indulge in stealing,” said Jivan Ram, who resides in the city. He said within a short span hundreds of grills had gone missing.

However drug addicts are not the only one who could be blamed for these thefts as shopkeepers too break these grills to make passages which makes it easier for drug addicts to carry them away. — TNS