Urban Estate woes grow, residents demand action
Urban Estate, once among the poshest colonies of Kapurthala, is now witnessing serious civic decay, with residents living in frustration and neglect.
Residents of the area said higher authorities of PUDA and government leaders had shown no seriousness in resolving the residents’ genuine requests on a host of issues.
Broken roads, stray dog menace, missing boundary walls and no stoppage for PRTC buses were among the primary issues that area residents have been complaining against — which, they say, haven’t been addressed by authorities despite repeated reminders.
They said although JDA officials are cooperative and the PSPCL ground staff works hard despite limitations, the root issues were being ignored by the top brass and complaints on government portals had gone unanswered.
Residents sought the immediate starting of street maintenance work, road repair work, boundary wall construction and a much-demanded Sports Complex and Community Hall in the area.
Advocate Anuj Anand, President of the Urban Estate Welfare Society, voiced deep anguish over the continued “indifference” from the government and PUDA Mohali towards the worsening condition of the colony.
Advocate Anand said, “The internal roads of Urban Estate are broken and dangerous. Despite multiple rounds of tendering, no action has been taken.
PUDA has been sitting on even minor repair approvals for months. JDA cannot move forward without green signals from above authorities. This is administrative paralysis. Residents themselves, through the Welfare Society, have managed to get small portions of roads repaired using their own resources and co-operation. How shameful is it that citizens are doing what the government should have done long ago.”
“Adding to the mess are broken and missing boundary walls, which have been ignored for years. Even small children can easily leap over these walls. There’s no security and no concern shown by those in power,” he added.
Another area resident, HK Pulani, said, “A growing menace of stray dogs has added to the problems. There have been numerous dog bite cases, and the situation has now sparked tensions between dog feeders and frightened residents. Children are afraid to go outside, and senior citizens remain indoors. The government must implement humane sterilisation and control measures. ABC (Animal Birth Control) rules are being ignored.”
Another long-standing issue of the area, residents said, is that Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses do not stop at Urban Estate.
Society resident Advocate Vikas Uppal said, “Despite numerous requests and written communications, no instructions had been issued for bus stoppage. Students, working professionals, and elderly residents are forced to walk long distances or wait endlessly.”
Advocate Anuj Anand, who has also made several complaints on these issues, also had misgivings about the Connect Punjab portal. Anand said, “Most complaints are marked ‘resolved’ without any field action. Even more concerning is the lack of response to Right to Information (RTI) applications filed by the Society. We filed RTIs, wrote to CM and ministers, but either there’s no reply or vague responses.”
Anand criticised the PUDA Mohali for delay in giving approvals to tenders and political indifference towards Urban Estate.
Jalandhar