Ludhiana's Transport Nagar, renowned as the nerve centre of trade and industry for the region, is battling a severe infrastructure and civic breakdown. Despite being the largest transport hub in North India after Delhi, its current state presents a grim picture of neglect, directly impacting the hundreds of businesses and thousands of workers who operate there daily.
A Hub in Hell: Transporters Describe Daily Struggle
The situation on the ground is dire. Vijay Kumar, a local transporter, did not mince words, describing the area as "extremely ugly" and comparing the daily experience to being "in hell." The problems are multifaceted and worsen significantly during the monsoon season. "You just cannot walk around and move on a two-wheeler even if it rains a little bit," Kumar explained, highlighting the immediate chaos that follows any downpour.
The core issues plaguing the hub are systemic. Over 800 transport firms are based in this zone, which sees the movement of goods through more than 1,000 trucks every single day. This massive economic activity is crippled by fundamental failures in civic management.
Triple Threat: Filth, Failed Roads, and Crime
The first major challenge is the appalling lack of cleanliness. The area is perpetually strewn with garbage and dirt, making a mockery of the national Swachhata campaign. Transporters point out the irony that even uttering the word 'swachhata' feels inappropriate in such a messy environment.
Secondly, the road network is in a state of complete disrepair. Baldev Singh, a truck driver, emphasized that the roads are broken and unable to withstand the constant pressure from heavy vehicles. "These require continuous attention... but these remain broken," he said. The resulting traffic jams, when trucks get stuck, further hamper logistics and efficiency.
Perhaps the most alarming development is the sharp rise in criminal activities. The hub has become a target for robberies and thefts. Transporters rue the loss of mobile phones and cargo from trucks. "If a driver has a window left open even for a little bit, he is sure to face life threat and robbery," one transporter revealed. Munish Mahajan, another transporter, contrasted the present with the past, noting that leaving cargo unattended outside, which was common five years ago, is now an unthinkable and potentially life-threatening risk.
Sewage Collapse and Official Apathy
Adding to the misery is a completely dysfunctional sewage system. Trucker Sarabjit Singh called it a "complete disaster," stating that gutters remain choked on regular days and overflow chaotically during rains. Having travelled extensively, Singh claimed he has never seen conditions in any other state's transport area as pathetic and dangerous as those in Transport Nagar.
Despite numerous complaints and pleas to the municipal corporation, administration, and elected representatives, the response has been limited to empty assurances. Darshan Singh, President of the Ludhiana Goods Transport Association, stated that the terrible condition of roads, cleanliness, and sewage is evident to any visitor, yet no concrete action has been taken.
The association has escalated its demands, including a request for setting up a dedicated police post to curb the rising incidents of robbery. Emphasizing the hub's national economic importance, Darshan Singh called for immediate attention from all authorities—municipal, administrative, and police—to provide relief and address the daily problems faced by the transport community.
