Display of ads on foot overbridge sans approval raises many an eyebrow

Patiala, March 5

The foot overbridge constructed by the Public Works department (PWD), adjacent to Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib in the city, is not yet functional, but is already being used for displaying advertisements.

A big flex board carrying advertisement of a bank and a religious event has been hung from the overbridge. Also, officials said no permission was sought from the Municipal Corporation for displaying advertisements on the overbridge.

Construction of foot overbridges outside Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib and Kali Mata Temple, which was pending since January last year, is being carried out now.

Although only part of the project has been completed, it has already caught residents’ attention due display of advertisements on the overbrige.

Ravee S Ahluwalia, who runs an NGO Patiala Foundation, said, “Similar foot overbridges were constructed in Mohali. Earlier, overbridges were proposed for roads with multiple lanes. The distance covered by pedestrians increases many times when climbing up and down foot overbridge. This has rendered these structures useless. The NHAI has stopped making such overbridges.”

“My NGO has taken up the issue of foot overbridges in the district with the road safety committee. In this scenario when pedestrians can’t use an overbridge, its construction will serve no purpose,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Punjab traffic advisor, Navdeep Asija, said, “Foot overbridges are not being used in urban areas. They facilitate un-interrupted movement of vehicles, but the point outside the gurdwara is already an intersection where traffic stops regularly.”

He pointed out that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed orders against construction of overbridges. “During a survey we found that not more than four people used foot overbridge in days’ altogether,” he added.

The PWD XEN, Yuvraj Singh, said, “The main purpose of the foot overbridge is to facilitate devotees coming to Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. Escalators will be installed at the site most probably in March.”

The Municipal Corporation superintendent, Sunil Mehta, said, “The civic body will issue notice to those, who displayed advertisement on the foot overbridge near gurdwara. Appropriate action against them.” — TNS