Rain fury: Mohali residents resent civic apathy

The condition of potholed roads is getting worse with each spell of rain in the district, giving a tough time to road users, especially two-wheeler riders.

One of the riskiest roads in Mohali is in the busy market area of Phase-3B2. The road was scraped for recarpeting but the work was stopped abruptly ahead of the rainy season. “Slush and gravel on this uneven road pose a risk to two-wheeler riders,” said Krishan Lal, a local resident.

Area councillor and Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi said the city roads need a complete overhaul.

In Phase 11, residents said garbage piled up on one side of the road leaves little room for motorists. “Foul smell and garbage scattered on the road make driving on this stretch a horrible experience,” said Kulwant Singh.

Shopkeepers of the Phase 11 market said the road, which was dug up for laying sewer lines, witnessed traffic chaos on rainy days. Traffic jams and slush on the road are creating problems for women who pick and drop their children to school daily.

The city residents said the condition of the village roads is really bad with no patchwork or recarpeting having been carried out for years.

Roads dup up for relaying sewer lines in many areas of Mohali, Zirakpur, and Kharar just before the onset of monsoon have not been recarpeted.

During rainy days, the toads are waterlogged and pits become invisible, posing a threat to commuters. Zirakpur, Dhakoli, VIP Road has a large number of spots where a tragedy is waiting to happen.

The stretch near Bollywood Heights-2 in Peermuchhala is in the worst condition. There is an open manhole right in the middle of the road in front of the main gate of the society. "Despite repeated reminders and letters to the Zirakpur MC officials, nobody is ready to act," said a local resident, Partha Banerjee.

The same is the case with Chinar Heights, which is located some distance away. "Water remains stagnant here for days," said Vinni Shukla, a local resident.