Hira Nagar Chowk a commuter’s nightmare

The once-bustling Hira Nagar Chowk on the national highway has now become a daily ordeal for residents and motorists, as gaping potholes and leaking pipelines have rendered the stretch almost undrivable. What was meant to be a smooth highway now resembles a patchwork of mud pits and dust clouds.

Locals say the trouble began after the road was dug up for optical fibre cable (OFC) repairs, but was never properly restored. Underground water pipes soon began leaking, flooding parts of the road while other sections dried into dust-laden trenches. “We breathe in dust all day. Our children are falling sick. When it rains, it turns into a swamp; when it’s dry, it’s like a desert,” said Ramesh Kumar, a resident.

The situation has become especially perilous for bikers, who often skid over mud patches or plunge into hidden potholes. “It’s not just inconvenient. It’s dangerous,” said Taniya, a daily commuter.

Despite repeated complaints, neither the Water Supply Department nor the NHAI has stepped forward to take responsibility. With each passing day, the road’s condition worsens. Residents are now demanding immediate, coordinated repairs, before neglect turns Hira Nagar Chowk into a full-fledged accident zone.