SBS Nagar roads in a shambles, residents fume

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, April 8

Residents of most of the colonies developed and maintained by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), especially one of the biggest residential colonies Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, are sore at the utter neglect of roads in the area. Residents feel that even if new roads are constructed or recarpeted, the poor quality of material used by contractors and workmanship would create trouble in future.

After failure to evoke any response from officials concerned of the LIT, the residents of the colony have now lodged a complaint with Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government, Punjab to apprise the government with the pathetic condition of the main road in E-block of the colony (around the police post) that connects the Rajiv Enclave flats.

Aggrieved residents, including Arvind Sharma, Amarjit Singh, Balraj Chopra and many others, claimed that the top layer of the entire stretch of road had eroded away leaving behind potholes with large patches of loose gravel. While the vehicle and two-wheeler drivers had a tough time passing on the road, even pedestrians, especially elderly and children, are at equal risk of meeting with accidents.

Alleging that the LIT officials were oblivious of their ordeal and suffering, the residents said repeated representations made for taking up repair or reconstruction of the damaged stretch of road had been ignored. “Residents have a right to basic urban infrastructure which is being denied by LIT authorities,” said the affected residents to voice their concern over being given a raw deal.

The complaint has sought immediate intervention of the government (Local Government Department, Punjab) to redress their grievance and made an appeal that the LIT authorities be directed to attend to the broken up/damaged road and take remedial action.