Hundreds of daily commuters in Ludhiana, including those carrying heavy luggage and traveling with children, are being forced to undertake a dangerous and life-threatening crossing near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT). The problem stems from the terminal's location directly at the foot of a busy flyover, where high-speed traffic converges, creating an urgent public safety crisis due to the absence of a dedicated pedestrian crossing like a foot-over bridge or an underpass.
A Recipe for Disaster: High-Speed Traffic Meets No Safe Passage
The core of the danger lies in the intersection's flawed design. Vehicles descend from the flyover at high speeds and merge near the ISBT entry point. This creates a continuous, fast-moving flow of traffic that offers pedestrians virtually no safe gap to cross the multiple lanes. Currently, commuters trying to reach the bus terminal have only two narrow gaps in the roadside railings to use. These openings provide no protection or traffic control, forcing people to dart and weave through oncoming vehicles entirely at their own peril.
"Every time I come here, I feel like I'm taking a risk," shared Manpreet Singh, a daily commuter. "Vehicles come down the flyover at high speed. We just have to wait and hope the traffic slows enough for us. It is dangerous, especially for elderly people and children."
Elderly residents are among the worst affected. Surinder Kaur, 62, highlighted the absence of any traffic personnel to assist. "I am waiting for traffic to stop. But nobody is there to stop it. I fear for safety. There must've been some personnel to help people cross or a bridge."
Chaos for Commuters and Drivers Alike
The risky pedestrian crossings are not just a problem for those on foot; they cause significant operational chaos for motorists and public transport as well. Auto-rickshaw drivers report that the sudden and unpredictable movement of people forces them to slam on their brakes, leading to frequent traffic snarls and near-miss accidents.
Harmeet Singh, an auto driver, explained the situation, "People crossing here slow down everyone. But it is not their fault there is no other way for them to reach the ISBT." This sentiment underscores that the lack of infrastructure is creating a hostile environment for all road users.
Unanimous Demand for Urgent Infrastructure Solution
Commuters have expressed disbelief and frustration that a major transportation hub like the ISBT was constructed without planning for the most basic necessity: safe access for passengers. Regular commuter Gurpreet pointed out, "The authorities built a bus terminal but forgot the most basic requirement, a safe way to reach it."
The demand from residents and passengers is now clear and unanimous. There is an urgent call for the construction of either a pedestrian foot-over bridge (FOB) or an underpass to resolve the issue immediately. Sehajpreet Singh of Nawanshahr voiced a common fear, stating, "It is extremely risky to cross over the road with children in this flood of traffic. Ludhiana authorities should wake up. An underpass or a footbridge are a must for passengers. Otherwise, it is an accident waiting to happen."
The situation at the Ludhiana ISBT flyover intersection remains a ticking time bomb, with daily commuters risking their lives due to a critical infrastructure gap that demands immediate governmental attention and action.
