Non-functional street lights trouble Zirakpur residents

ZIRAKPUR: Safety on the Chandigarh-Ambala stretch near the Zirakpur flyover has become a major concern as most of the street lights are either shut or remain defunct causing problems for motorists and residents for the past few days, leaving the entire stretch in the dark.

High-mast lights lying defunct near the bus stand on the Chandigarh-Ambala stretch in Zirakpur. photo: Prabhat Katiyar

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, August 14

Safety on the Chandigarh-Ambala stretch near the Zirakpur flyover has become a major concern as most of the street lights are either shut or remain defunct causing problems for motorists and residents for the past few days, leaving the entire stretch in the dark.

Commuters as well as localities rue that the entire stretch from where the Zirakpur flyover starts and to the point where it ends plunges into darkness after the sun sets. People commuting on this stretch at night are at more risk as it becomes difficult for motorists to spot stray cattle roaming on the roads.

Pedestrians, who have no other option but to pass through such stretches, take each step with the constant fear of danger lurking in some corner. At times, their guiding light is the torch in their mobile phones or the headlights of vehicles passing by.

“Due to non-functional streetlights, the entire stretch seems scary after sunset. Sometimes, we have even averted hitting stray cattle or any pedestrian in the dark,” said residents.

High-mast lights installed at key junctions in the city near Singhpura intersection, Motiaz Royale Estate, Metro and near the bus stand with a view to illuminating the larger portion of the National Highway, which otherwise remains engulfed in darkness or low light in the absence of proper lighting, have been lying non-functional for the past few months. The matter has been overlooked by the maintenance agency concerned.

Residents, who commute frequently on this stretch, said they had hardly seen these high-mast lights in a working condition. They said proper lights were need of the hour on this stretch.

When contacted, an official of the GMR company said he would get the defunct street lights on the Chandigarh-Ambala service road near Zirakpur rectified at the earliest. Regarding the non-functional high-mast lights, the official said the light installed near Metro was lying defunct as electricity metre developed a snag and they would get it rectified in a couple of days. Regarding the rest of the three high-mast lights, which are also lying defunct, the official said their maintenance comes under a private firm, which was engaged for installing the same and looking after their maintenance.