Heavy rainfall over the past few days has severely damaged roads across Amritsar, leaving commuters struggling with waterlogged stretches, potholes, and traffic snarls. Residents have urged the Public Works Department, Municipal Corporation, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to carry out repairs before conditions deteriorate further.
Waterlogged roads and potholes pose risks
Many roads that were already in poor condition have developed deep potholes, while accumulated rainwater has made travel hazardous. “Roads that were already in a poor condition have developed potholes and rainwater accumulated on these stretches pose a serious risk to commuters,” a resident said. The situation is particularly bad on the bypass, where the construction of flyovers by the NHAI has been delayed. “The ongoing construction has already narrowed carriageways and the recent rain has further compounded the problem,” another resident noted.
Traffic snarls worsen commuters’ woes
A major bottleneck has emerged on the GT Road near New Amritsar, where an overbridge is under construction. Traffic has been diverted to a service lane, which has suffered extensive damage due to the rains. This uneven and waterlogged stretch leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during rush hours, significantly increasing travel time. Rajesh Kumar, a resident of New Amritsar, said, “Commute has become difficult on city roads. Motorists often fail to spot water-filled pits, increasing the risk of mishaps.”
Another resident, Harpreet Singh, described the service lane near the flyover construction site as “almost unusable.” He added, “Every spell of rain leads to massive traffic jams, wasting time and causing inconvenience to thousands of daily commuters.”
Residents demand immediate repairs
Locals have appealed for at least temporary repairs and improvements to the drainage system to prevent water accumulation. They stress that without immediate action, the coming monsoon months will bring even more disruption. The combined efforts of the PWD, Municipal Corporation, and NHAI are needed to ensure safer roads during the rainy season, they said.
