Transport Nagar cries for basic amenities

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 20

Transporters are an inconvenienced lot as Transport Nagar is lacking in basic amenities here. The sewerage system has been lying faulty for the past over two months with the result that even mild rain leads to water accumulation on roads. Sometimes, the rainwater enters buildings and offices in Transport Nagar.

The condition of roads is very bad with most of them either broken or dotted with potholes. During rain, these potholes get filled with water, thus becoming invisible to motorists, especially bikers/scooter riders, who could lose their balance and fall off their vehicle. These also affect the movement of vehicles inside Transport Nagar.

Transporters rue that it has been more than three years since roads in the area were reported broken, but the authorities concerned have neither repaired them nor reconstructed them so far. As a result, truckers and heavy vehicles face inconvenience while driving in the area. The sewerage system is lying faulty and during rain water gets accumulated on the road and with it filth flows over the surface of the water. A foul smell pervades the area, making it difficult for passersby to breathe.

Moreover, a majority of streetlights in the area have not been functioning for the past over one month. Some streetlights function erratically while a majority of them have been lying defunct for a long time.

Manoj Kothari, one of the transporters, said, “Rainwater enters our complexes. The sewerage system has been lying defunct for over two and a half months and even after mild rain, all roads in our area get submerged. During a downpour, the rainwater enters our complexes, affecting our work routine.”

Kothari added, “We have brought the matter to the notice of the Bathinda Improvement Trust and the Municipal Corporation a number of times, but nothing has been done by these authorities to address the problem being faced by transporters. It is due to the lack of basic amenities in Transport Nagar that there are a number of complexes lying vacant and nobody is showing any interest in purchasing or renting them out.”

Transporters say that there is no drinking water facility in the area and they have to buy water. As streetlights are lying defunct, moving inside Transport Nagar during late evening hours becomes a risky affair as transporters feel that the area is isolated and mischievous elements keep roaming around here.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said, “Transporters can submit a written report detailing the pending works at Transport Nagar. I will ensure that the repair work is started soon.”