Road cave-in outside Ludhiana railway station sparks safety concerns

A road cave-in outside the main entry gate of the Ludhiana railway station has raised serious safety concerns for thousands of daily commuters. The damaged stretch, located opposite one of the busiest junctions in the city, has become a hazard zone following the recent spell of heavy rainfall in Ludhiana.

The cave-in, which appeared on Thursday, has exposed deep cracks and a sunken road patch that may widen as well. The compromised road surface poses a dual threat — both to pedestrian safety and vehicular movement.

“The road is a lifeline for Ludhiana,” said Ramesh Kumar, a daily commuter.

“It connects the railway station with the Civil Lines, old city areas, Jalandhar bypass and major commercial areas. A cave-in here is not only an inconvenience but also a disaster waiting to happen,” he said.

The area sees a footfall of over 50,000 passengers daily. Auto-rickshaws, cabs and private vehicles are forced to swerve dangerously close to the edge, risking further collapse.

“I saw a two-wheeler skid and fall on the road on Wednesday,” said Harpreet Kaur, who travels through the route daily.

“It’s shocking that such a critical spot is being ignored. The authorities should get the issue rectified at the earliest,” she said.

The recent rains have wreaked havoc on city roads, with waterlogging and erosion weakening several stretches. Experts warn that poor drainage and delayed maintenance are compounding the problem.

“The caved-in road needs urgent attention before it turns into a tragedy. We demand a permanent fix to the solution. As Ludhiana continues to grapple with damages caused by rains, the cave-in outside its busiest transport hub stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for infrastructure accountability,” said Pooja Sharma, a social activist.

In yet another blow to the city’s crumbling road infrastructure, a fresh cave-in has emerged near Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Hospital Road in Shastri Nagar, just steps away from Mintgumri Chowk. It marks the second cave-in in the same area this month, raising serious concerns about public safety and civic accountability.

Earlier this month, a portion of the road on the one side of Mintgumri Chowk collapsed due to underground sewer failure. Now, a portion of the opposite side has caved in, creating a dangerous crater at one of the city’s busiest junctions. The stretch connects Model Town, Civil Lines and several key institutions, making it a vital artery for daily commuters.

“It is not just a pothole, it’s a warning sign,” said Arvind Sharma, a local activist and resident of SBS Nagar. “I’ve flagged the issue repeatedly. Poor drainage, reckless cable digging and zero preventive checks have turned our roads into ticking time bombs.”

Commuters are already feeling the impact. With the festival season approaching, traffic congestion has worsened and detours through narrow lanes are causing delays and accidents. “Going to Model Town has become a nightmare,” said Ravinder Singh, a shopkeeper near the affected stretch.

“There’s no signage, no barricades, just chaos. People have put tree branches into the caved-in portion of the road,” he added.