Gaping holes on city roads risk commuters’ lives

JALANDHAR: While a majority of the city roads are already in a bad condition, a gaping open hole on the road at Guru Amar Das Chowk is posing a serious threat to commuters.

A hole on the road at Guru Amar Das Chowk in Jalandhar. Tribune Photo

editorial@tribune.com

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, March 25

While a majority of the city roads are already in a bad condition, a gaping open hole on the road at Guru Amar Das Chowk is posing a serious threat to commuters. Motorists have also complained of accidents taking place on the spot as no warning sign has been put in by the authorities.

“A motorcyclist met with an accident on Friday night on the road as the hole was not marked to alert commuters,” said Rajiv, a daily commuter on the road, adding that the gap hole had been lying uncovered for the past many weeks.

He said though some of the commuters take it as their social responsibility to aware residents and cover the hole by putting tree branches with leaves on it but stray cattle on road usually end up eating the leaves.

“We are paying property, road and other taxes, hence, the government should ensure basic amenities to people,” he said.

Another commuter-cum-social worker Pankaj said the gaping hole on the road pose a risk to the lives of motorists, mostly two-wheeler riders. Sometimes people were unable to spot such holes due to which serious mishaps take place.

“The MC should take a serious note of such problems and should repair such holes and potholes at the earliest,” he said.

Manveen Kaur, a city resident, said it was due to the apathy of officials due to which the gaping holes, open manholes and poor roads were not being repaired by the local body and residents had to suffer. She demanded that all such holes and manholes should be properly covered or filled up to save innocent lives on roads. Rajnish Dogra, Superintending Engineer, Building and Roads Department, said he would get it checked and would repair the hole as priority within a day or two.

Govt should provide basic amenities: Resident

“A motorcyclist met with an accident on Friday night on the road at Guru Amardas Chowk as the big hole was not marked to alert commuters,” said Rajiv, a daily commuter, adding that the it had been lying uncovered for the past many weeks. “We are paying property, road and other taxes, hence, the government should ensure basic amenities to people,” he said.