Relaying of sewers along VIP Road to be completed soon: Zirakpur MC

More than three days after Zirakpur’s VIP Road was clogged with slush, turning the commute risky, the Municipal Council today assured the residents that the relaying of sewers will be done at the earliest.

The residents of Zirakpur and its neighbourhood, office-goers, schoolchildren and shopkeepers, are left to face the inconvenience as stretches of the VIP Road remain submerged in sewage water.

The stretch from Dominos Chowk to Skyline Park is uprooted and riddled with potholes. Close to a dozen housing society residents complained that schoolchildren are finding it extremely difficult to board their bus, ride cycles and bikes on the VIP Road. Delivery, courier and vegetable vendors are not ready to come here.

The task of laying a 2-km long pipeline by the Punjab Water Supplies and Sewerage department is being carried out at a cost of Rs 2.65 crore.

Zirakpur executive officer Ashok Kumar Pathariya said, “The existing pipe (1.3 km) has been changed while 700 meters will also be replaced soon. The existing pipeline was 15 years old and proving to be insufficient to the needs of residents as frequent blockages, overflow and damage was being reported. Now 16 inches, 24 inches and 32 inches pipelines are being laid.”

The civic body officials said since the relaying work is being done without stopping the flow, ocassional hassles were being witnessed. Also, the stormwater drain and main water pipeline have also been laid side by side on the 12-ft wide road, further complicating the problem.

The executive officer assured that after the laying of sewers is complete, the repair of road will be completed soon after. The tendering process has been initiated beforehand, he said, adding, “Once the work is complete there will be no obstruction in the flow of waste water from VIP Road to Singhpura STP. It will also resolve the waterlogging problem on this stretch.”

Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain, meanwhile, instructed the Municipal Council to complete the work in a staisfactory way and as soon as possible.