Commuters suffer due to potholed service lanes in Sahnewal, NHAI turns blind eye

The six-laning project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) here has made commuting on the service lane on the Sahnewal-Dhandhari stretch especially uncomfortable for residents. In an attempt to make the national highway user worthy, the service lanes have been reduced to mere kuccha roads—embedded with ruts, depressions and deep trenches—where rainwater accumulates even after the lightest of showers.

“There is none to listen and none who can make the authorities concerned realise the day-to-day torture we have to undergo while getting stuck in traffic jams due to deep ditches and potholes on the Sahnewal-Dhandhari stretch. Many times people’s vehicles break down on this stretch and many also meet with serious accidents. Who is responsible for the injuries suffered by commuters on account of the bad condition of the highway?” asked a highly frustrated commuter.

Despite commuters repeatedly reminding the NHAI, through social media handles and other sources, to keep the service lanes user-worthy, the latter, as usual, has failed to act.

“It is that the NHAI, which is responsible for the maintenance of these roads, is turning a blind eye towards the commuters’ sufferings. Most people dread the idea of crossing the service lane and look for alternate routes, even if it is an extra mile por two. Are we paying lakhs in the form of toll for this miserable ride?” said another commuter.

“The peeled surface further adds to discomfort for the commuters, apart from leading to vibrations, especially in the case of two-wheelers, the jagged and irregular surface increases the risk of skidding manifold. With monsoons at its peak, the peeled surface has degenerated into kuccha road. The service lane has developed such hollow channels that if a commuters meets with an accident they can be left bedridden for life,” complained Charanjit Singh.

The issue has been highlighted through these columns time and again, but to no avail. Site engineer Sandeep Singh, when contacted, said the work of the re-carpeting had been delayed due to adverse weather conditions. “The work of adding bitumen and concrete shall be initiated soon,” he added.