ROADS ARE IN DILAPIDATED CONDITION

ROADS ARE IN DILAPIDATED CONDITION

31-OCT-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------In the Bihiya town area of ​​Bhojpur district, the deteriorating condition of roads and damaged drains is causing increasing hardship for motorists. The dilapidated state of the roads frequently leads to vehicle accidents and traffic congestion. On Thursday night, a truck became stuck near a damaged drain and its covering slab, close to the railway overbridge on the route leading to Mela Road.

During the incident, a leaf spring of the truck broke, leaving the vehicle stranded in the middle of the road. It is reported that the truck has been stuck at the location since Thursday night. Repair work, involving a mechanic, has been underway since Friday morning.

The presence of the truck in the middle of the road disrupted the movement of vehicles—both large and small—traveling to and from Mela Road. With the truck blocking the thoroughfare, traffic flow in both directions was severely hampered, forcing many drivers to take alternative routes to reach their destinations.

According to local residents, a wheel of the truck became trapped on a slab covering a damaged drain. The resulting strain caused a leaf spring to snap, rendering the truck immobile. Even with a mechanic brought in to carry out repairs, it took a significant amount of time for traffic to return to normal.

Locals state that the condition of roads in the Bihiya town area is dire. In many places, drains are damaged, and the slabs covering them are broken. Incidents involving heavy vehicles getting stuck or suffering mechanical damage while navigating these areas are a frequent occurrence.

Residents allege that despite the authorities being aware of these issues, the relevant department has failed to take any concrete steps toward a permanent solution. The lack of repairs to the roads and drains is also causing financial losses for motorists. Additionally, traffic congestion is occurring frequently due to vehicle breakdowns.

Separately, near the Jamua turn by the Western Railway crossing, a truck’s leaf spring broke, leading to a long queue of vehicles on the road. This breakdown disrupted traffic flow along that route as well, leaving drivers stuck in a traffic jam for an extended period.

Local residents and truck drivers state that there is no suitable alternative route for heavy vehicles in Bihiya. Consequently, trucks and other heavy vehicles frequently break down while navigating the dilapidated roads.

Currently, the movement of heavy vehicles on the Railway Overbridge (ROB) is suspended. Repair work is underway, with barricades installed on both sides of the ROB. As a result, heavy vehicles are forced to pass through the old, worn-out roads within the town area.

The closure of the ROB, combined with the poor condition of the alternative routes, has further compounded the difficulties faced by truck drivers. The frequent stalling of heavy vehicles is disrupting traffic, while local residents and passersby are also forced to contend with persistent traffic congestion.

Truck drivers have urged for the swift completion of the ROB repairs so that it can be reopened for heavy vehicles. They believe that once the ROB is operational, the pressure of heavy traffic on the town's dilapidated roads will decrease, potentially alleviating the congestion issues.

Local residents have called upon the relevant department to promptly repair damaged drains, broken slabs, and deteriorated roads. It remains to be seen when the department will take cognizance of these issues and what steps it will take to provide relief to the public.