Space under flyover turns into dumping ground
Rajiv Bhatia
 Garbage lies scattered under the Zirakpur flyover. A Tribune photograph |
Zirakpur, July 6
The vacant space under the multi-crore flyover at Zirakpur has turned into a dumping ground.
Beneath the flyover, heaps of garbage present an unhealthy picture to the visitors. The Zirakpur flyover became operational more than six months ago, giving a big relief to the people from traffic jams, but the garbage accumulating beneath the flyover has virtually converted the entire area into a massive open-air dustbin. Even encroachments can be witnessed under the flyover.
Residents of the area say with the garbage strewn under the flyover, it is difficult to cross the road. They allege that the authorities concerned do not bother to take steps to clean up the mess. They have demanded the area under the flyover should be maintained properly and converted into green belt.
A survey of the area reveals that various kind of rehris, rickshaws, commercial vehicles and horse wagon are parked under the flyover. Though the National Highway authorities have categorically stated on the pillars of the flyover that it is a property of the National Highway and any kind of encroachment, pasting any banner or parking vehicles are strictly prohibited, advertisement posters are also pasted on the pillars of the flyover.
Ravi Dhaliwal, a resident of Zirakpur, says, “It is difficult to walk along the road, as the garbage was dumped everywhere and smelling foul. We are demanding from the authorities to clean the area and convert it into a green park.”
Sources in GMR, the company undertaking maintenance of the Ambala-Chandigarh highway, say, “We are cleaning the space regularly, but next day the place is again filled up with garbage.” Despite their strict instructions to shopkeepers not to throw garbage under the flyover, the latter are using the space as a garbage dumping place, sources add.
Sources further add that they had taken up the issue to the Zirakpur Municipal Council but nothing has been done so far.
GMR officials say, “We will strictly raise this issue with the Municipal Council and ask them to cooperate with us for solving this problem.”
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Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, June 13
Driving without helmet and triple riding have become the order of the day in Zirakpur as the traffic cops are more interested in intercepting outstation vehicles.
Despite presence of cops at major junctions, there is no traffic management. No one has bothered to make the traffic signals functional at the Panchkula intersection, the Patiala intersection and the Chhat village link road.
A survey of the area reveals that traffic cops are either seen standing in groups, talking on mobile phones or harassing the outsiders. Auto-rickshaws and rickshaws are often parked on the roadsides posing a difficulty on the congested road.
They are hardly bothered to carry out their duty and can be seen struggling to control the traffic only on VIP duty. A senior citizen, Prem Singh Thakur, said, “There are no rules and regulations for youths who are riding motorcycles rashly and without wearing helmets.”
Mohit Kumar, a resident of Zirakpur, said, “Whenever I am going to Chandigarh, traffic cops in Zirakpur generally stop me because my car bears Delhi registration number. Even if I tell them that I am a resident of Zirakpur they harass me.”
Rajan Khurana, a shopkeeper near the railway track, said, “I have never seen any traffic policeman near the railway track.”
Ironically, though the district administration has banned the stoppage of vehicles on the Zirakpur-Dera Bassi Highway, buses are parked on the road. However, DSP (traffic) Hardevinder Singh said, “We are challaning the traffic violators and traffic cops are deployed on various points to keep an eye on violators.
Zirakpur MC plans foot overbridges
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, February 21
The Zirakpur Municipal Council is planning to build foot overbridges at different places to provide free movement to pedestrians in Zirakpur. The proposal has been mooted after the Zirakpur Municipal Council realised that with the construction of Zirakpur flyover and under construction four-laning of the highway, little space was left for the movement of the pedestrians and number of accidents involving the pedestrians has been reportedly increased in the past few months.
The proposal had been sent for an NOC to the NHAI for clearance after which the next step would be taken, officials said.
However, officials stated that a private company was to be appointed to design and draw up the bridges, for which tender would be called after getting the NOC from the NHAI.
According to official sources, the move has been planned after the residents demanded for foot overbridge on some major roads where the traffic volume is high. After the officials of the areas conducted the survey where large number of pedestrians used to cross the road daily, the Zirakpur-Panchkula road was provisionally identified for putting up a foot overbridge. Among the other areas considered for putting up the similar bridges were near the Choice Resort road to cross the highway on the Chandigarh road, near Dashmesh Colony and AKS Colony on the Patiala road and one on the Ambala road with better location.
However, officials stated that the feasibility of putting up the structures in different parts of the city would be finally analysed by the consultant to be appointed. The consultant would assess the vehicular traffic volume in different parts of the city and the pedestrian rush to identify the requirements for the foot overbridges.
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Bus stand a distant dream for Zirakpur
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, November 17
In the absence of a proper bus-stand in Zirakpur, passengers travelling to and fro the city are harassed.
Since there is no designated place for people to wait for buses, those wanting to leave the township do not know where to look for buses. Similarly, those who change buses here are left on the road in the middle of nowhere.
Passengers claim that since there is no single point where buses have to stop and disembark passengers, the bus drivers end up stopping at the place most convenient to them. Passengers have to, as a result, walk long distances to find another transport. These “unauthorised” bus stops also lead to traffic jams.
The authorities have turned a blind eye to this situation.
“Bus stand is a dream for Zirakpur,” says Supinder Singh, a resident of the town. He adds that the government is doing nothing to solve the problem. “After becoming a part of Mohali district, we hoped for extensive development, at least a proper bus-stand, but nothing happened,” he further says.
“There are no rules and regulations for bus drivers. They drop passengers on the flyover,” says Shailja, a resident of Kalka. She adds: “I told a bus driver to take the bus from beneath the flyover, but he did not listen to anything and dropped me and my family on the flyover. From there, I had to hire an auto-rickshaw who charged me double price. Then, I had to board another bus for Kalka from Zirakpur-Kalka Highway.”
Derabassi SDM Sohan Lal Bhumbak says: “I know about the problem of bus stand. It will be solved as soon as possible.”
“I will talk to senior authorities. Bus stand must be built at an approachable place, where all passengers get all facilities,” SDM adds.
Zirakpur has multiplexes, no fire station
Rajiv Bhatia
Zirakpur, May 9
Even though Zirakpur skyline has undergone a colossal change over the past couple of years with multi-storied residential complexes and shopping malls coming up on farms lands, fire-fighting facilities have failed to develop proportionately.
The township once known for just marriage palaces is now on the country’s tourism map with hotels malls and multiplexes. Even the area under residential complexes has greatly increased.
In all, around 150 colonies and 13 villages are under the Zirakpur MC. Yet, the authority concerned has so far done little for the setting up of a fire station. As of now, fire tenders from Panchkula and Derabassi are summoned in case of blazing inferno.
In the process, firemen fail to reach the spot within the specified response time of five minutes. Rather, they take about half an hour to reach the spot.
According to sources, the situation is worsened by the fact that the tenders from Panchkula and Dera Bassi have to find their way through the traffic mess. All this results in wastage of time.
Construction work of flyover on National Highway and four laning of roads are basic reasons for the fire tenders to get late because they are caught in heavy rush of traffic.” Sources add: In Derabassi fire station, there are only few water tanks, which do not carry enough water to deal with major fires. The manpower too is inadequate.
Last month, the office of property dealer in Kalgidhar Enclave was gutted. Electronic items and important documents were destroyed. In that incident, a fire tender reached there after half an hour. It took a single tender over three hours to control the fire.
“So many fire incidents are witnessed, but concerned authorities do not take it seriously”, alleges Arvind Kumar, a resident of Zirakpur. He adds: The department should turn active to fight with increasing problems.
According to executive officer of MC R.K. Mittal, “The resolution has moved for government approval. We are waiting for reply”. He said in case of fire, we could take help from Mohali fire station.
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