Sinking feeling: Dug up roads on Rajmarg hold up daily commuters

SURAT: Traffic movement on Rajmarg has been severely affected ever since the work began three months ago to install 230km long underground drainage pipeline in central municipal zone of the city. The stretch from Bhagal to

General Post Office

is most affected because the traffic density here is about 15,000 Passenger car units (PCU) per hour during peak time, civic officials said.

Surat Municipal Corporation

(SMC) decided to replace drainage lines in central zone in December 2018. Delay in completion of work by contractor is causing lots of problem to people, who earlier expected it to get over within two months as promised by the civic body.

The work started from Bhagal. However, after the work was completed between Bahgal and Parsi Sheri by February-end, the contractor didn’t bother about repairing the damaged roads. Potholes and uneven surface made a smooth ride for a vehicle a difficult proposition.

“We can use only one side of the road for driving vehicle. Traffic chaos has become a routine affair during peak hours nowadays,” said Digant Patel, a resident of walled city.

SMC’s estimates that around 15,000 PCUs pass the Rajmarg-Bhagal stretch up to GPO during peak hours.

“We were told that the work will be completed in 60 days. But 90 days have passed and they still want more time. How long can one keep using diversions?” asked Somji Patel, a vegetable vendor from Bhagal.

Bharat Dalal, city engineer, said, “We are creating a new facility for people at a cost of Rs63 crore. We hope they will bear with us. We will try to complete the work by March-end.”