Flyovers, underbridge in ailing condition

Sukhmeet Bhasin

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 26

Development claims of the state government do not seem to be going well as residents of the city still lack basic amenities.

The condition of Multania flyover is quite pathetic as its railings have become so weak and footpath bricks have started coming off from many portions. Even the department concerned has also installed a warning board stating that the railing of the flyover is weak, so people should not stand taking the support of railing here.

Multania flyover is the one that connects many colonies to the city and heavy traffic passes from over it throughout the day. Commuters pass from the flyer over putting their lives on the risk as authorities is in deep slumber.

Even both the under-bridge and over-bridge connecting area across the railway lines with the city cry for attention and is in dire need of repair. Such a worst condition of the bridges has started affecting the commuters who pass by these bridges number of times in a day.

Whereas, the over bridge of Paras Ram Nagar has developed potholes while the under-bridge has no street lights and uneven roads, that has led to many accidents.

While reasons for the potholes on the bridges may range from use of sub-standard material for laying the roads, frequent plying of heavy vehicles or accumulation of water during the monsoon season, the commuters believe that the departments concerned have turned a blind eye to upkeep of the bridges. The situation becomes even more troublesome during the monsoon season as underbridge is waterlogged and adds to the woes of commuters.

Residents of the area also questioned the claims made by the Badal family to convert Bathinda into California, stating that they should focus on Bathinda only and provide facilities to residents.

Krishan Kumar, a resident, said many accidents occur due to pathetic condition of roads. Accidents have also caused spinal injuries and bone dislocations. But so far, no attention had been paid to this problem.

Another resident, Tarun Kumar, said the railing of the Multania flyover have become very weak, the administration should repair it before any incident takes place as everyday heavy traffic passes from this bridge round-the-clock.

Commissioner, the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda (MCB), Dalwinderjit Singh, said he would look into the records to ascertain whether the responsibility of repairing the footpath and railing lies with the MCB or B&R department.

SDO, the PWD and B&R Department, said, “The Multania Flyover Bridge was built several years ago, we have to check whose responsibility is this. As in most cases, we build bridges, roads and transferred it to the MCB.”