Dug-up road near Guru Nanak Pura Park a nightmare for commuters

The stretch of Chuggiti Road near Guru Nanak Pura Park, once dug up with much fanfare before the Municipal Corporation elections, has now become a nightmare for commuters and residents, with no sign of repair work resuming even after several months.

This vital link for those heading towards Amritsar and Hoshiarpur via Jalandhar was dug as part of the Municipal Corporation’s hurried pre-election roadwork campaign. But since the polls concluded, the site appears to have been completely abandoned, with potholes turning into water-filled craters and sewage overflow making matters worse.

“The road was unmotorable even before it was dug up,” a commuter said. “Now, it’s nearly impassable. We expected improvement, not worse conditions. The authorities have just left it like this.”

The situation is particularly troubling because the road is a preferred shortcut for motorists avoiding the longer route via the PAP flyover. However, they now have to navigate through broken surfaces, potholes and stagnant water, which not only slows traffic but also poses a risk to vehicles and lives alike.

Adding to the ordeal is the poor drainage in the area. Overflowing sewage merges with accumulated rainwater, creating a foul smell and unhygienic mess across the road. Residents complain that the stretch near the railway crossing, Guru Nanak Pura, is equally dangerous, riddled with deep potholes and lacking any basic upkeep.

Kamal Sharma, a local resident, said, “The road condition is shameful. We pay our taxes, yet face these conditions daily. The Municipal Corporation seems to have forgotten us right after the votes were counted.”

Another resident pointed out the broader problem of poor quality repair work across the city. “Even where roads are repaired, it’s all temporary. Within weeks, the same problems reappear. There’s no quality control, no follow-up,” he said.

“With no communication from the authorities and no visible signs of work restarting, we feel betrayed by politicians who had promised better infrastructure during their campaigns. The broken, waterlogged road now stands as a grim symbol of post-election apathy", said Kavita Mehra, another resident.

Meanwhile, MC officials said road repair work is on in the city, with many broken stretches already repaired and this stretch too will be covered under the ongoing works.

Jalandhar