Kalkaji residents demand good roads, sanitation

Congestion is one of the biggest problems that residents of Kalkaji are facing. Streets are full with cars parked on both sides and unplanned growth over the years has added to the burden of the crumbling civic amenities. Ritam Halder reports.

Congestion is one of the biggest problems that residents of Kalkaji are facing. Streets are full with cars parked on both sides and unplanned growth over the years has added to the burden of the crumbling civic amenities.

For people living in colonies under the Kalkaji assembly constituency, the issues are many and varied.

“Prices of essential goods are going up every day. Electricity and water bills are also killing us. The government, it seems, is doing nothing about these things,” Mohinder Singh, a resident of Kalkaji main, said.

Ajay Kumar is tired of the congestion in the Govindpuri area. “It takes hours to get out in the peak hours. Plus sanitation is very poor. Garbage is littered all around,” Kumar said.

Even the areas that considered posh in the constituency have civic problems such as water and sanitation.

In East of Kailash, bungalows and flats in posh green locales come as a welcome relief. However, all is not well.

Residents say water supply is irregular. “The water doesn’t come on time. The roads are not good. However, the authorities are in no mood to act despite repeated complaints,” Mahesh Yadav, a resident, said.

Apart from these, parking is a major issue. “The government must come up with a comprehensive strategy to solve this issue. The numbers of cars are increasing daily and there is no space to park them,” Yadav said.

Due to an acute lack of parkings and unplanned buildings with no provision for stilt parkings, the already burdened roads have been turned into parking lots by the people. Cars parked on both sides of the road leave very little space for the pedestrians and the traffic.

At Sriniwaspuri, there is a complete lack of basic civic amenities. Though the area that houses various government quarters look spic and span, the residential colonies seem to have suffered the wrath of the ever-growing number of residents.

The roads become narrower as one ventures inside and potholes dot every section. Every time it rains, there are mini-puddles all over. Cars parked in every possible space makes it difficult to even walk around. Garbage littered on the roads add to the woes.

No wonder residents are angry. “The authorities should ensure that we have better roads and proper sanitation. Waterlogging is a norm here. No one cares for us,” Subhash Sharma, a resident, said.

At New Friends Colony, another swanky neighbourhood, life looks good. However, as one steps out on the main road, garbage is strewn all around. “We complain to the MCD but there has been no action,” said a security guard.