Work on Malhar Road begins, brace for traffic snarls

Harshraj Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 3

Residents are likely to witness more traffic snarls in the coming days due to the ongoing road projects in the city. After starting soil testing for the construction of a railway over bridge (ROB) and two under bridges (RUBs) on Pakhowal Road, the work to make Malhar Road a smart road has also begun.

Road safety activists and the residents have requested the authorities concerned to come up with proper regulation and traffic management.

A portion of one side of Malhar Road has been dug up and barricaded for the project. Malhar Road links Pakhowal Road and Ferozepur Road (NH 95).

The elevated road construction work on Ferozepur Road is already underway, but the service lanes along the highway are not ready till date.

Now, the traffic activists have requested the authorities concerned to make a proper planning to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city. A road safety activist, Rahul Verma, said, “The work to make smart Malhar Road has been started. Now, the traffic management will be a big issue. There is a dire need to make a proper planning to prevent traffic snarls.”

Earlier, some activists had requested the government to get the Vikas Nagar rail crossing on a stretch along the Sidhwan canal that links Pakhowal Road and BRS Nagar reopened to ease the traffic. This rail crossing was closed after the construction of a railway over bridge under the Southern Bypass project.

As the previous road projects are often completed after missing several deadlines, residents requested the government to ensure the completion of projects on Pakhowal Road, Malhar Road and Ferozepur Road within the deadline period.

A resident of Sarabha Nagar said, “Due to the ongoing work on these major roads, the traffic is likely to get affected. The traffic snarls are already being witnessed at Ferozepur Road as the elevated road project is underway. The authorities concerned should ensure the diversion of traffic through other routes to avoid inconvenience to the commuters on Pakhowal Road and Malhar Road.”

It is pertinent to mention that due to the incomplete Jagraon bridge reconstruction project and the widening of the National Highway 1 project, the commuters are already suffering.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said “We have talked to the Commissioner of Police regarding the arrangements for traffic management due to the ongoing projects.”

Despite repeated attempts, Additional Commissioner Sanyam Aggarwal could not be contacted.