Being a part of Khanna-Bhwanigarh state highway and Patiala-Malerkotla highway, the traffic is heavy and fast on a two kilometre stretch, known as the ‘circular road,’ in Nabha. As the city has grown across the circular roads, it is no longer a bypass road and has almost become an arterial road.
Despite it being such a busy road, there is no distinguished pedestrian crossing on the road, making it frightful for the aged people and highly risky for children as well. In addition to this, there is no speed limit mentioned anywhere on the stretch and no vehicles meet any check on the violations.
Many residents of the heritage city, which is fast losing its greenery, even in the interiors, travel across this road towards Bir Mehs wildlife sanctuary, Punjab Public School grounds and Shahi Samadhan, for morning and evening walks.
“There is a lot of garbage in the city and the roads are mostly dilapidated. So, we go a little outside towards the green belt to maintain our health. But it’s scary to cross the wide circular road from any point,” said Mohanlal Gupta, a senior citizen.
“Markets, schools, and coaching centres are situated in the older side of the city. We find it highly risky to send our children across road,” said Geeta Kumari of Shiva Enclave, a colony that in the expanding areas in the city.
{{/usCountry}}“Markets, schools, and coaching centres are situated in the older side of the city. We find it highly risky to send our children across road,” said Geeta Kumari of Shiva Enclave, a colony that in the expanding areas in the city.
{{/usCountry}}Over the years, the city has expanded across the circular road, which was earlier limited to inside the circle. The road has a number of arterial roads and streets connected to it, on both the sides. But none of the junctions carry any warning signs. Accidents are a regular thing here.
Residents speak
“The speed limit should be lowered on this 2km stretch. And the limit should be strictly implemented in a similar way in Chandigarh,” said Dr Ranjit Dhaliwal.
“A number of accidents occur on this road and many of them are fatal. But the governments have moved nothing to prevent them or ease the citizens,” said Manjeet Singh, a localite.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Jashanpreet Kaur says that she will direct the traffic in-charges to keep tab on the speed limit. Pedestrian crossing points will also be identified and the PWD will be directed to mark it by zebra crossing and speed breakers.