Jalandhar: Portions of Rama Mandi, Dakoha flyovers cave in

Avneet Kaur

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Jalandhar, July 23

The monsoon has again exposed the infrastructural weaknesses in the city as portions of Rama Mandi and Dakoha flyovers have caved in.

The incidents, coupled with the appearance of gaping holes on both sides of the Jalandhar-Amritsar national highway near Sarab Multiplex, have exposed the monsoon preparedness and the quality of construction work.

The caving-in of a portion of the Rama Mandi Chowk flyover has raised serious safety concerns for thousands of commuters. The flyover, a crucial link between Jalandhar and Phagwara, now poses a threat to motorists. Daily commuters say that this is not the first time, the same portion has caved in repeatedly over the past three years.

Meanwhile, the caving-in of a big portion of the Dakoha flyover has shocked commuters because the flyover was constructed only about six months ago. The fact that it could not withstand its first monsoon rain has raised serious concerns about the quality of construction. Commuters are demanding accountability and urging the administration to take up the issue with the NHAI.

“The filling of the caved-in portion with sand will not solve the problem. If it rains, the sand will wash away again. Such caved-in portions whether on roads or flyovers must not be taken casually as these can pose a serious risk to commuters,” said Puja, a resident of Rama Mandi.

The Jalandhar-Amritsar highway near Sarab Multiplex is facing a similar plight. Gaping holes have reappeared on both sides of the highway. These holes, which appear during each monsoon, are covered with sand, a temporary measure that fails to address the root cause of the problem.

Gajinder Singh, a frequent user of the highway, said: “Commuters like me are the regular users of this highway and such holes invite accidents. The concrete chunk has disappeared from the road, leaving a 4-5 feet hole clearly visible. However, a quality check is important.”

He emphasised the need for immediate and permanent repair, stating, “The public is paying toll and it’s the duty of the government to ensure commuters’ safety by maintaining national highways and repairing faults at the earliest.”

DC Himanshu Aggarwal stated that the issue had been reported to the NHAI Director, who assured him that repairs would be prioritised and teams be dispatched to assess the site immediately. “The MC Commissioner has also been instructed to accompany the NHAI team, find out the root cause and supervise the repair work,” he added.

Regarding the newly built Dakoha flyover, Aggarwal said he had already conducted a review meeting and asked the authorities for the repair.