Light rain exposes 'development claims’ in Phagwara

Shiv Sena (UBT) city president Raman Sharma on Saturday accused the government of misleading the public with “hollow claims” of development, asserting that even a brief spell of rain has laid bare the poor state of civic infrastructure in the city.

In a statement, Sharma said while the government continues to project large-scale development through official records and advertisements, the ground reality tells a different story. He alleged that despite the Aam Aadmi Party being in power in the state for the past four years, residents have seen little tangible improvement in basic amenities.

He claimed that instead of improving, conditions in Phagwara have deteriorated significantly, leaving the city grappling with broken roads, waterlogging, heaps of garbage and chaotic traffic. “The situation has made daily commuting difficult and dangerous, especially for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders,” he said, adding that such conditions pose a constant risk of accidents.

Highlighting a specific concern, Sharma pointed to the stretch along the GT Road where the road was dug up for sewerage work but has yet to be restored. He alleged that neither the local municipal authorities nor the highway authorities have taken responsibility for repairing the damaged section, causing inconvenience to commuters on a daily basis.

Sharma further accused the government of indulging in “vote bank politics” by making false promises while ignoring pressing civic issues. He demanded immediate repair of damaged roads and called for an effective drainage system to ensure proper disposal of rainwater and prevent waterlogging in the city.