MC apathy takes toll on Civil Lines roads

LUDHIANA: Roads and streets in the Civil Lines area of the city are in deplorable condition and need urgent repairs. Potholes have surfaced on streets and roads of the area at several places. The commuters, especially two-wheeler riders, are inconvenienced due to bad condition of these roads.

Broken roads in the Rakh Bagh area of the Civil Lines in Ludhiana speak volumes of official apathy. Photos: Inderjeet Verma

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 12

Roads and streets in the Civil Lines area of the city are in deplorable condition and need urgent repairs. Potholes have surfaced on streets and roads of the area at several places.

The commuters, especially two-wheeler riders, are inconvenienced due to bad condition of these roads.

During a visit to the area on Tuesday it was found that majority of roads in the Rakh Bagh area of the Civil Lines were broken. The road behind the State Bank of India branch bears testimony to the official apathy. The road is broken at many places and full of potholes near the Sadar and Division No. 8 police stations.

Potholes on roads in the area increase difficulties of commuters whenever it pours. Commuters can easily fall as rainwater gets accumulated in potholes on roads making these invisible.

Interestingly, residence of several top-level officers of the district administration, including the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC), is located in this area. They pass from these roads every day.

“These roads have been in shambles for a long time. Commuters travelling on these stretches are facing many problems due to their poor condition. It seems the Municipal Corporation authorities are looking the other way. That is why these roads have not been repaired for a long time,” said an area resident, who did not wish to be named.

According to sources, some roads have not been constructed for a long time. Residents of the area claimed that they had brought the issue into the notice of the MC authorities many times, but nothing was done to improve the condition of roads. Some residents even blamed use of substandard material in construction of roads, which caused early damage to the surface.

Residents demanded that the MC should at least get roads in the area repaired as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience to commuters.

Municipal Commissioner Jaskaran Singh was not available for comments. Joint Commissioner (Zone D) Kulpreet Singh said roads in the Civil Lines, which were in poor condition, would be repaired soon.