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No relief from bumpy rides for commuters in Mohali
There is no relief from bumpy rides for residents of Mohali, as the municipal corporation (MC) has failed to find a solution for pothole-riddled and damaged roads across the city
There is no relief from bumpy rides for residents of Mohali, as the municipal corporation (MC) has failed to find a solution for the pothole-riddled and damaged roads across the city.
According to sources, the civic body, which is going through a severe financial crunch, chose to get the roads in the city patched this season instead of getting them re-carpeted. “Re-carpeting of roads is usually done after four to five years. In case of shortage of funds, we prefer to get patch work done. Re-carpeting has been done on only two roads till date”, shared a senior official.
MC had in October set the target to complete the patchwork at 56 spots in the city by the end of November.
However, with just seven days left for the month to end, the work is yet to be completed at 22 spots, including Phase 1/6 lightpoint, Phase 2 market, HIG house, Phase 2 and Phase 6 internal roads in Zone 1.
The major work is pending in Zone 2, which includes prominent roads like Computer Chowk, Phase 7; Ambedkar Bhawan, Phase 3B2; HM quarter, Phase 3B1; Opposite Hanuman temple, Phase 3A; Grecian Hospital, Gurukul School and near excise and taxation office in Sector 69; the slip road in Sector 71; the rear parking of Phase 3B2 market and Khokha market in Phase 3B1.
Work in Phase 3, according to officials, has been completed while patchwork in Sector 80 in Zone 4 is pending.
A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have to complete the patchwork by November 30 as the bitumen plant will be closed in December due to cold weather.”
Navjot Kaur, MC commissioner, said the work is being carried out area wise. “We are making best efforts to complete the patch work at the earliest and we have already covered majorly damaged roads,” she said.
Residents grapple with plethora of problems
The poor state of roads not only poses a risk to the lives of residents, but also causes financial burden as they have to get their vehicles serviced more often.
Nitish Kumar, a Mohali resident, said, “I work in Industrial Area and use the road connecting 3B2 with Phase 8B. Riding a bike on that road, especially at the light point intersection of Sectors 59, 72 and 58 and 73 at NH- 21, is not safe at all. I hurt my back after my bike slipped there two months back. Luckily, I was wearing a helmet”,
Avtar Singh, president of residents’ welfare association, Sector 69, blamed MC officials for neglecting repeated requests to repair roads near Kumbhra light point.
“It’s been over two years that authorities had rooted the stretch connecting Phases 11 and 6 in order to lay sewerage pipes. The road continues to be in poor shape and it is very difficult for the two-wheelers to drive through. We had submitted several requests but to no avail,” said Singh, adding that the situation gets worse when it rains.
The situation is worse in the prominent areas of the city including Phases 3B2, 3B1 and 7.
Meanwhile SE, MC Naresh Batta said that re-carpeting of road near Kumbran light point has already begun.
