Parking, pollution, garbage top residents’ woes list

Ludhiana (West) bypoll are just around the corner and people of the constituency are hoping that the new MLA will look into the concerns and issues faced by them, while there are still others who are dejected and have no hope left for the political system.

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One of the major issues that the residents want to be solved is the parking issue. West constituency has some of the posh localities like Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar, Gurdev Nagar, etc. but the problem of parking remains consistent throughout the ward.

The residents of BRS Nagar and Sarabha Nagar have been demanding that the parking at the markets should be free. After insistence from the residents, the parking at Sarabha Nagar market was made free by late MLA Gurpreet Gogi and residents demand that no parking fee should be charged and the responsibility of managing the parking should be given to the market association.

In addition to this, the paucity of parking space is yet another issue in the area. All major markets in the constituency like Feroze Gandhi Market, Ghumar Mandi, Model Town and Pakhowal Road lack enough parking space. In the absence of designated parking spaces, visitors are left with no other choice, but to park their vehicles on the roadside or along narrow roads, leading to congestion. Traffic police tow away the vehicles parked wrongly, which only adds to their woes. But the question being asked repeatedly by the people of the constituency is, “Where is the space to park the vehicles?”

“Feroze Gandhi Market is the financial hub of the city, but it lacks adequate parking space. The stock exchange and numerous banks are located here and every day hundreds of people visit, but they have to struggle to find parking space for their vehicles,” said Rakesh Kumar, a bank employee. There was plan for a multi-level parking facility at this market under the Ludhiana Smart City Limited, but it has failed to see the light of the day.

A resident of Ludhiana (West) constituency, Kapil Arora, added that he had no expectation from AAP and Congress as both have supported the polluters (dyeing units) at all times. Earlier, the Congress never listened to the voice of the people and continued to intrude in the working of the MC and Smart City projects leading to poor planning, designs and major discrepancies, resulting in further chaos in the posh areas of the constituency. Similar has been the situation under the AAP regime, he added.

“Expectation or demands are expected from those who understand the problems of the people at large. No one among the candidates has raised the issue of violations by the dyeing industries and I feel that such candidates when they will win, will do nothing for the environment,” said Arora.

Another pressing issue is garbage. “Many times we see garbage littered on the roads and things become difficult during the rainy season as it emits foul smell. This matter should be taken care by the new MLA,” said Gurjeet Kaur, a city resident.