Canal road sans railings puts commuters’ lives at risk in Ludhiana

Southern Bypass, Ludhiana, the most preferred route, is sans necessary support at many places. The plight of the commuters, taking to Canal road and risking their lives due to the absence of railings, had been highlighted in these columns many times but the department concerned appears to be waiting for some major catastrophe to take place, before it finally swings into action.

The expressway along Sidhwan canal is the most preferred route by commuters, who undertake their journey from Ludhiana to Chandigarh and vice-versa. There are a number of spots where the iron railings are completely missing and the bystander gets a chill in the spine. Any speeding vehicle can skid into it and invite trouble. Many a time, it has been observed that the drivers tend to go beyond the normal speed and overtake the vehicle going ahead from the wrong side. This increase the chances of mishap and in a situation where no support exists at all, the commuters can fall into the trap, unawares. The department concerned, though informed, has failed to address the issue which in every way demands urgent attention.

“Even the foggy winters have failed to awaken the authorities towards the urgent need to affix the mandatory support along the canal. I fail to understand why this urgent requirement is being overlooked time and again. This despite the fact that the department had initiated the process of recarpeting the expressway and assured that the issue of missing railings shall be attended to on the basis of priority, as and when the recarpeting is accomplished. But none seemed really concerned after the work was done and the spots, awaiting intervention, stare commuters in the face. In the existing weather conditions, even smart driving fails when a thick blanket of fog wraps the vehicle suddenly. In such a situation, there are chances of mishap as there is simply no demarcation at all between the road and the canal at some of the spots. The commuters, in every way, foresee a bleak journey ahead,” complained a traveller.

PWD XEN Rajinder Kumar said the project of recarpeting was with the XEN, Construction Division-1, Ludhiana, and that he cannot comment whether the affixing of railings was a part of the project or not.