Broken flyover road open invitation to mishap

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 24

There is no end to sufferings of passengers and the staff, who run the bus service, for the past one year as flyover road inside the city bus stand is in a dilapidated condition. Buses exit the city bus stand via this badly broken flyover road.

Earlier, a bus operators association had also got potholes on the road filled with soil, but to no avail. Member of the association blamed the authorities concerned for turning a blind towards poor condition of the small stretch.

Officials of the bus stand claimed that the repair work was to be carried out by the Municipal Corporation (MC). However, MC officials said it was the responsibility of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

The general secretary of the Small Scale District Bus Operators Association Punjab, Jaswinder Singh Grewal, said, “Chances of any mishap due to poor condition of the flyover road are high. Bus passengers experience a bumpy ride everyday due to big potholes on the road.” 

“We had attempted to get the road repaired temporarily by filling potholes with soil. However, rain washed away soil in filled potholes,” he added.

A bus staff said, “Broken road becomes slippery whenever it rains. Any bus can overturn on the stretch. If any mishap takes place, the authorities concerned will be held responsible.” 

Notably, the broken stretch is located next to bus stand fee counter. “When we pay full bus fare and taxes, why the government is not serious in getting the road repaired? I travel in bus from Ludhiana bus stand to Chandigarh several times, but this small stretch of flyover has not been repaired for a long time. When buses pass over broken portion of the road, passengers suffer, but nobody cares,” said Gaganpreet Singh of BRS Nagar.

The General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Inter State Bus Terminal, Ludhiana, Harjinder Singh, said,  “We will take up the matter regarding repair of the flyover road with the Municipal Corporation.”

The MC Superintending Engineer, HS Bhullar, said, “We have asked the National Highway Authority of India and a private company, which is constructing elevated road in the city, to get the flyover road repaired.”