Administration’s decision draws flak

No entry to Kalka-Ambala NH from Mubarikpur road

Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, November 24

Scores of villagers, shopkeepers, industrialists and motorists have cried foul against the administration’s decision on not allowing direct entry to the Kalka-Ambala National Highway from Mubarikpur road at Bhankharpur village.

The villagers complained that the authorities have restricted direct entry of all types of vehicles heading towards Chandigarh from Mubarikpur. They have to take a detour of almost 2 km to re-join the highway on the opposite side after taking a road, under the railway overbridge, of the village.

The road is in a bad shape as knee-deep potholes have come up on the road. Heavy and multi-axel vehicles have virtually peeled off the entire road making it impossible to cross lights and small vehicles, complained Mohan Singh, a resident of Trivedi Camp.

Jasvir Singh, a villager, said the village gurdwara, shops and bank are located on the road, where entry for vehicles is prohibited.

Gurnam Singh, another resident of Bhankharpur village, said a large number of business establishments, including stone crushers, industrial units, are at Mubarikpur Focal Point and residential colonies are located in and around Mubairkpur. The commuters have been facing a lot of inconvenience for the past couple of years here, added Gurnam.

The villagers also claimed that since no traffic police personnel have been deployed at the site, the area is highly prone to accidents.

The villagers have demanded permanent deployment of traffic police personnel at the spot and have also sought permission for two wheelers, approaching from Mubarikpur side, to cross the road.

Complaining of incurring losses due to clouds of dust as a result of plying of vehicles on the kuccha and damaged road (under the RoB), shopkeepers Sukhjinder Singh, Gurnam Singh, and Gurdev Singh have demanded its repair and re-carpeting.