Open pits, drains pose risk to commuters

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 16

Despite crores of rupees having been spent on the six-laning of the National Highway No. 2, rechristened as Number 19, serious risks remain for the commuters in the wake of open pits and drains at many points in the city.

The Rs 2950-crore NHAI project is expected to be completed by December-end this year.

“There are several open pits in a stretch of about 100 m on both sides of the National Highway near Bata Chowk and these have been lying in the same condition for the past about a month,’’ said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 10, who commutes from here daily in connection with his job. He said while these pits had been reportedly dug to erect electric poles, these tend to become cesspools in the event of heavy rain and pose a risk to the vehicles passing from here.

Charging the authorities concerned of gross carelessness and putting the life of commuters to risk, Avtar Krishan Gaur, a resident, said besides the open pits, the storm water drain on both sides of the NH had been lying uncovered and incomplete. This was very dangerous, as motorists and commuters find it difficult to see this and could fall into it. He said hundreds of commuters suffer injuries during the rainy season in the city each year as roads get submerged under water and potholes become invisible.

Admitting that the issue of open pits and drains was life-threatening, Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF), said the matter had been raised at a recent meeting in which the DC Atul Kumar had directed the NHAI officials to cover all points lying open along the National Highway. The NHAI ought to be held responsible in case of any tragedy, he said.

Mohammed Safi, project director, NHAI, however, claimed that since the project was being carried out by the Delhi Agra Toll Road (DATR), the company outsourced the work of construction and maintenance for a period of 26 years, it was the responsibility of the Concessionaire to take care of this section.

Sanjay Singh, Site Engineer, DATR, claimed that while pits near Bata Chowk had been covered, the work of covering of drains with precast structures had been in progress.