Heavy rain for 4th day batters Chandigarh roads

Heavy rain for four days caused devastation on the city roads, with cave-ins at various places posing as death traps for commuters.

A major portion of the road from Dadumajra to Maloya gave way during rain today. Traffic on the stretch was disrupted. Besides, a cave-in was also reported at the road separating Sectors 14 and 15. A deep pit was formed near the Sector 31/47 roundabout. Rain left roads in Manimajra broken, making them prone to mishaps. The condition of roads in villages and colonies turned worse.

The Municipal Corporation failed to recarpet roads due to financial crisis. Residents are vexed at the bad conditions of roads.

Suman Sharma, councillor of ward number 4 at Manimajra, said the condition of roads had turned from bad to worse this year. She said the MC had no money for recarpeting, adding that they had never seen roads in such a bad shape earlier.

Varinder Singh, a resident of Manimajra, said it was difficult to cover the stretch from the railway underbridge to Dhillon theatre even on foot. He said potholed roads had been the cause of many accidents in the area.

Kuldeep Singh, another resident, said he wondered if they lived in the City Beautiful or a village.

Darshana, councillor of ward number 5, also complained about the bad condition of roads in her area.

Harjeet Singh, councillor of ward number 8 Mauli Jagran, said a cut was made in the road leading to Manimajra for laying a storm water line, but it had not been restored causing a lot of problems to residents. The road falls under the jurisdiction of the UT Administration.

Kuljeet Singh Sandhu, councillor of ward number 14, said recarpeting of roads of Aman and Chaman colonies was pending for over five years. Ram Chander Yadav, another councillor, said internal roads at the Dhanas rehabilitation flats were in bad shape.

Residents of Ram Darbar are unhappy with the MC. Saket Kumar, a resident of the area, said roads were potholed and accident-prone.

Gucharanjit Singh, councillor from Hallomajra, said rain left many roads potholed, rendering them unfit for travel. The road recarpeting had been due for years in the ward.

Jasbir Singh Ladi, councillor of ward number 21, said the condition of roads was worsening day by day. He said the road near the Sector 47/48 traffic light point that caved in a day before required a permanent solution. “The cave-in has occurred at the same place for the third year in a row. Lakhs are spent on repair work, but it is only an eyewash. The whole storm water pipeline running beneath the road needs to be replaced,” he said.

Ladi said the same storm water pipeline also caused a deep pit near the Sector 31/47 roundabout. The spot was a death trap, he added. He said he had raised the issue many times before the authorities but to no avail.

Congress leader Dilawar Singh said rain had damaged roads in Maloya. Councillor Nirmla Devi claimed to have immediately taken up the matter with the MC authorities.

Baljinder Singh Bittu, president, Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh, said the condition of roads was never as bad as they were now. “The MC has failed to recarpet roads before monsoon. While the civic body has increased taxes, it failed to provide better services to residents,” he said.

“In a meeting held recently, I instructed councillors to identify bad roads and take up the matter with MC officials," city BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra said.

Accusing the BJP of making hollow promises, city AAP chief Vijay Pal Singh said, “No money was given to villages and colonies for development. Due to this, the condition of roads there is worst."

“The bad condition of roads paints a poor picture of the city, which was known for its infrastructure. The ruling BJP is responsible for failing to get sufficient funds for recarpeting work," said HS Lucky, president, city Congress.

Chandigarh