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Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, April 15
Despite repeated demands of a shopkeepers’ association and a number of activists, information regarding the project plan and its cost estimate has not been displayed at various sites where the Smart City Mission and MC’s projects are underway.
Now, when the Smart Street project is underway on Malhar Road in Ludhiana, questions are being raised over the project design. The shopkeepers’ association and activists alleged that the road width was being reduced by installing interlocking tiles. On the other hand, officials of Ludhiana Smart City Limited claimed that the project was underway in the right manner and no road width was being reduced.
Paramjit Singh of the Malhar Road Shopkeepers Association said: “We have been demanding from the authorities to display the project plan and other required information on Malhar Road for a long time but they ignored our demand. Now, when the work is underway, we learned that the road width is being reduced. No slipway has been made on a turn on Malhar Road towards Gurdwara Sahib Road.”
He said: “Traffic snarls will be witnessed on the road after reducing the width of the road. Moreover, interlocking tiles around old trees on the road will also cause damages to the tress. When I raised the matter regarding the project design with an official of the firm handling the project, I did not get any satisfactory reply.”
A road safety activist, Rahul Verma, said: “I also observed that the road width is being reduced and it will cause inconvenience to commuters. The motorists may face traffic snarls due to the improper design on a turn on Malhar Road. Residents of nearby areas may also suffer if the project design is not improved. The authorities concerned should look into the matter seriously.”
Denying the allegations, an official of Ludhiana Smart City Limited said: “The work on the road is underway as per the norms. Under the project, the pedestrian way and arrangements for parking of vehicles are being ensured. Proper curves are being made at turns on Malhar Road. Moreover, the central verge area is being reduced. Thus, no road width is being reduced. The allegations are false.”
The official added that the project details would be displayed at project sites in the city after getting approval from the higher authorities concerned.
Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu, who is also one of the directors of Ludhiana Smart City Limited, said he would look into the matter. The project work was being done in a right manner as per the plan. Malhar Road was already wide.
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