Travel on Jalandhar Bypass at your own risk

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 2

‘If at night you happen to walk on the Jalandhar Bypass Road on the National Highway, do it at your own risk.’ This should be the statutory warming to pedestrians, says an NRI, pleading anonymity.

Stepping on a broken cover of a storm drain may send you straight into the drain and injure you seriously unless you are lucky enough to escape with a few bruises and cuts.

“At night, the storm sewers with broken covers are an open invitation to accident. Any pedestrian who’s not extra-vigilant runs the risk of falling into the drain,” says Santosh, a migrant labourer, who works nearby.

A retired teacher, Manjit Singh, recounts his experience: “My car broke down on my way to the city. I decided to walk down to get some help. I almost fell into an uncovered drain. It’s my good fortune that I was somehow saved.” He adds that it seems the authorities were waiting for an accident to happen to wake them up. “I simply fail to understand why this problem cannot be rectified,” he said. During winter, when the visibility is poor, uncovered drains and broken railings along the pavement can lead to a grievous injury to pedestrians and even cyclists who sometimes use the path. “You just don’t know where your next step will land you unless you keep looking down at your feet. It’s a risky walk. At least I would avoid it,” says Vikas Sharma, a student. Ironically, around five-minute car drive from this stretch of the national highway takes you to a chowk that says “Welcome to Smart City Ludhiana”! Is anyone listening?