Service lane connecting Focal Point a daily nightmare for commuters

The service lane connecting Focal Point to Lamma Pind Chowk has become a source of daily hardships for commuters, industrialists and small business owners due to its worsening condition. The road, which sees heavy traffic throughout the day, is riddled with potholes, causing frequent vehicle damage and increasing the risk of accidents.

For daily commuters, navigating the broken road has become a costly and risky affair. Kamlesh Singh, who uses the route regularly, expressed his frustration. “Every time I drive on this road, my vehicle suffers damage. Repairs are expensive and with the number of potholes, it’s impossible to avoid these all. I constantly fear getting into an accident,” he said. He also pointed out the lack of streetlights, making the road dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike.

Local vendors, who run small businesses along the stretch, are equally affected. Munshi, who owns a roadside stall, described the relentless dust kicked up by passing vehicles. “The dust settles on everything, making it difficult to breathe and affecting my business. Customers avoid stopping here because of the filth and poor conditions. It’s not just a problem for commuters, but also for those trying to earn a living here,” he said.

Industrialists operating in Focal Point, one of the region’s key manufacturing hubs with over 200 industrial units, have long been vocal about the crumbling infrastructure. They had written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, seeking urgent intervention. Their letter highlighted the severe waterlogging, a completely collapsed drainage system and the narrow underpass that serves as the only entry point into Focal Point in poor condition.

Calling the underpass an accident-prone area, industrialists urged the authorities to conduct a survey and consider expanding the passage to facilitate the movement of heavy vehicles. “What was once a straightforward entry into Focal Point has now become a daily ordeal. Trucks and transport vehicles struggle to pass through, leading to traffic jams and delays,” they said.

“The poor condition of the road has also caused embarrassment for local business owners when hosting clients and investors”, said Rajan Sharda, an industrialist, adding that it’s humiliating to escort business delegations through this area. Pothole-ridden roads, non-functional streetlights, scattered garbage and stray animals create a terrible first impression. “It’s shocking that such an important industrial zone has been neglected for so long,” he said.

Industrialists say that despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken to improve the service lane. “The deteriorating infrastructure continues to affect businesses and pose serious safety risks for thousands of people who use the road daily”, they added.