Cantonment Mall Road makeover: A pure delight for city residents

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 16

In a much delight to the Jalandhar cantonment area residents, the Mall Road has gone in for a complete makeover in the last few days.

Along with the installation of a mini replica of the India Gate, all major chowks have been renovated with new designs, a helicopter installed on the Kulwant chowk, an insignia of a closed fist has been installed at another chowk and Jawahar Park has become colourful with five idols of Punjabi “gabrus” and “mutiyars” installed inside it. An open gym installed outside St Lukes Church has become a major attraction for daily walkers on the Mall Road.

One can see the change immediately while entering the Mall Road. To begin with, a new structure has been added to the already blooming Jawahar Park. Colourful idols of two Punjabi “gabrus” and “mutiyaars” were installed inside the park which is attracting people travelling on the Mall Road and also children playing in the park. While the “gabrus” are shown playing dhol, the “mutiyars” are shown dancing to peppy beats. A small hen too is amusing visitors here.

Moving further, the Army seems to have done a complete makeover of the Kulwant chowk situated next to the 100 year-old Jullundhar Club. A helicopter was installed on the roundabout situated near the club, while the statue of Lt-Gen Kulwant Singh, known as the founding father of the Vajra Corps, was installed at a height in another chowk.

In a little dejection to sports lovers, the Army has taken away the go-carting track from the Sappers Park and has, instead, cleared the path for people to walk. It has also renovated the entrance to the park with rotating Buddhist prayer wheel style. The entrance gives the feeling as if one is entering a Buddhist monastery.

A few more steps and a fist of four golden hands welcomes one at the mechanised chowk. The symbol, seems to be saying “Unity in diversity’, was installed only a day ago and the shining insignia has already attracted a lot of morning and evening walkers with its luminous look.

While moving along the well carpeted road, one cannot miss the well-manicured plants and trees along the roadside and flowers in full bloom. The Army has recently got the inter-locking tiles fixed on both sides of the roads and even got designer bins installed on both sides.

Walking further, the people are in for the biggest delight to see a mini but beautiful and well crafted replica of the India Gate at Bhim Chowk. Situated next to the St Mary’s Cathedral church, the replica reminds us of the India Gate at New Delhi and along with it the name of those who laid down their lives in various pre-Independence wars!

Some ice-cream vendors reaching the spot in late evening and selling ice cream actually gives a true feeling of visiting the real India Gate in the national Capital.

With the uplift of the road, the traffic too has increased here for the past few days. City residents living in nearby areas are coming for an evening stroll here to enjoy music which is on the loud speakers installed all across the road. During evenings, the road becomes nothing less than a place of pure delight and relaxation for those who come here everyday to relieve the stress of their day!

Stray dog menace rampant

While the Army has taken many steps to maintain the historic Mall Road in the cantonment which once housed the home and office of General Reginald Dyer, known as the Butcher of Amritsar for his massacre done at Jallianwala Bagh in April 1919, it is yet to set it free from the menace of stray dogs roaming freely on the road. Dogs are creating a lot of nuisance for the people who regularly do morning and evening walks on roads here.