Ambala-Saha road project an ordeal for commuters

Nitish Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Ambala, February 7

The ongoing four-laning project on the Ambala-Saha road has become a cause of inconvenience not only for commuters, but also eatery operators, especially at the entry point of the Ambala Cantonment, which has been lying closed due to the construction work for the past over one month.

The closure of the road has been forcing the commuters to take alternative routes increasing the traffic load in the busy market of the Ambala cantonment.

The Ambala-Saha road is one of the busiest roads here and the four-laning project (a 14.84-km long stretch on NH 444-A) in the Ambala Cantonment is being carried out at a cost of Rs 220 crore.

Complete work by March-end, Firm told

We have instructed the company to get the work completed by March-end. Residents also understand and they have been cooperating. Directions have also been issued to the traffic police to ensure that there are no jams in the markets. —Mamta Sharma, sub-divisional magistrate, Ambala cantonment

Sunny, a dhaba operator, said, “A majority of the customers for us were those travelling on the Sahranarpur route and railway passengers. Earlier, there was no business due to the Covid pandemic and now for the past couple of months we are not getting customers as the road in front of the dhabas here are lying completely uprooted. Earlier, I had a staff of six persons, but now I have only one worker left, as in the absence of business I am in no position to give salaries.”

Kushal Batra, who runs a refreshment store, said, “With the road lying closed, there are no customers and I had to keep my shop closed for several days. The business is at its all-time low, but the expenses are still the same. We are getting the same electricity bills and we will be asked to pay the taxes also even when there is no business.”

Harmeet Singh, a commuter, said, “Due to the ongoing construction work on the main road, the traffic load in the market area has increased. The commuters travelling in cars also enter the market and sometimes there is traffic jam there.”

A site engineer said, “The road work is going at a good pace and the entry point of the stretch is likely to be completed within 10 days, while the entire road is likely to be completed by March end. Nearly 80 per cent work is complete. Along with the road, the drains are also being constructed and these will be completed by November.”

Mamta Sharma, Sub-divisional Magistrate, Ambala Cantonment, said, “We have instructed the company to get the work completed by March end. Residents also understand and they have been cooperating. Directions have also been issued to the traffic police to ensure that there are no traffic jams in the markets.”