Frustrated over the Municipal Corporation’s alleged failure to repair damaged roads, councillor Rohit Sikka, along with residents and supporters, on Wednesday filled up potholes on Haibowal Road on their own.
According to the councillor, several complaints had been submitted to the civic body regarding the poor condition of the road but no repair work had been carried out. He said the damaged stretch had become a major safety hazard for commuters.
Sikka alleged that the deteriorating condition of the road had already led to serious accidents in the past. He claimed that a city resident had lost his life due to a pothole on the elevated road while battery-operated rickshaws frequently overturn due to the uneven surface. He warned that if timely repairs were not undertaken, a major accident could occur.
Expressing disappointment over the civic body’s response, Sikka said he decided to take the matter into his own hands after repeated requests to the authorities failed to yield any results. Accompanied by local residents, he carried out temporary repairs by filling up potholes on the road.
“The safety and convenience of residents is our priority. When the authorities failed to act despite repeated complaints, we were left with no option but to undertake the work ourselves,” he said.
Residents, who participated in the exercise, said the damaged road had been causing inconvenience for months and posed a risk to commuters. They demanded immediate and permanent repair of the road rather than temporary measures. The councillor urged the corporation to prepare a long-term plan for repairing Haibowal Road and other damaged roads in the area. He called for immediate repair work and maintenance work to prevent accidents and provide relief to commuters.
