Jalandhar North residents submit letter to Mayor, seek action on civic issues
Frustrated by years of neglect, members of the Chamber of Northern Societies, representing 50 welfare associations in Jalandhar North, have submitted a letter to newly elected Mayor Vineet Dhir, urging immediate action on civic issues that have severely impacted residents' daily lives.
At the top of the list is the long-pending underpass at Ram Nagar/Gandhi Nagar, a project stalled for over two years despite repeated assurances. Residents of Shiv Nagar, Industrial Area, Mathra Nagar and Sodal Nagar remain cut off between two railway lines leading to Amritsar and Ferozepur, forced to take long and unsafe detours. The letter asks the Mayor to intervene and ensure the underpass is completed without further delay.
Equally pressing is the chronic sewage overflow in Gazigulla, Ward No 69, where residents have been living amid filth for years. Streets remain waterlogged with dirty, foul-smelling sewage, making daily movement difficult and creating serious health hazards.
"The repeated complaints to the Sewerage Department have been ignored, leaving the public feeling helpless", the delegation said, requesting immediate action to clean the system before the situation worsened further.
Traffic congestion near the Chandan Nagar underpass has become another nightmare for commuters. The narrow 15-foot wide road leading to Sanatan Dharma School on Sodal Road is a constant bottleneck, making it dangerous for schoolchildren and pedestrians. "Emergency vehicles often struggle to pass, increasing risks during critical situations", they added.
Residents have demanded that the road should be widened to at least 40-50 feet, calling it an essential step to ease daily suffering.
Flooding of roads during the rainy season has only made matters worse. "Two large underground water tanks at the Chandan Nagar underpass, designed to collect rainwater, have become useless due to years of neglect. Filled with mud and debris, they fail to drain water, leaving the underpass submerged during monsoons. Last year, stagnant water left the area inaccessible for days, causing severe inconvenience to residents", said Suraj Birdi, press scretary of the chamber, adding that the tanks be cleaned immediately to prevent another disaster this year.
The delegation also urged the Mayor to include the underpass and road-widening projects in the Smart City initiative to ensure faster implementation.
While submitting the letter, the members congratulated Mayor Dhir on his election but made it clear that residents expected swift and effective action. They expressed hope that his tenure would bring long-overdue relief to the people of Jalandhar North, who have suffered from years of administrative neglect.