Asansol, West Bengal: The long-standing anger of local residents and commuters finally came to the fore over the dilapidated and crumbling condition of the road on the Garoi Bridge, located on the National Highway under the Asansol North assembly constituency. Due to the tarmac peeling off the bridge, large potholes have formed, and the exposed iron rods sticking out of them have made the daily commute extremely risky for thousands of people. Commuters and vehicle drivers alike live in constant fear of a major road accident at any time.
It is noteworthy that this Garoi Bridge is an extremely vital corridor for both heavy and light vehicles plying on the Kolkata-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata routes. However, due to a lack of maintenance, the condition of the upper surface of this bridge has become so pathetic that it has turned into a death trap for daily travelers. Local residents allege that due to the poor condition of the road, massive traffic jams frequently occur on this bridge. Especially during evening peak hours, the situation becomes so critical that vehicles remain stuck for hours, wasting extra time for passengers trying to reach their destinations.
Understanding the gravity of the situation and to pacify the growing anger of the general public, Asansol North MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee personally reached the spot and inspected the Garoi Bridge. During the inspection, he took stock of the cracks, deep potholes, and dangerous protruding iron rods on the upper surface of the bridge.
Interacting with journalists, MLA Krishnendu Mukherjee said, "Large potholes and cracks have formed at multiple places on this extremely vital overbridge of the National Highway. The internal iron rods have come out and bent, which could cause a severe accident. Furthermore, this broken road is causing massive traffic jams in the evenings, multiplying the sufferings of the general public."
He stated that for an immediate resolution of the problem, he has contacted the responsible authorities. The MLA mentioned that he has already spoken to the District Magistrate (DM) and held detailed discussions with senior officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). He has received assurance from the NHAI that the repair and rejuvenation work of this dilapidated road on the Garoi Bridge will be completed by October 8th.
Now, the main question is whether, following this assurance from the NHAI, the repair work of the Garoi Bridge will actually be completed within the stipulated deadline. Local residents and vehicle drivers are now eagerly keeping a close eye on the situation. They hope that the early completion of the repairs on this dilapidated road will not only reduce the risk of accidents but also provide permanent relief from the long-standing traffic jams.
