Patiala , January 7 - Residents of Patiala are facing serious difficulties due to the absence of proper street lighting on several major and internal roads across the city. After sunset, these roads remain engulfed in darkness, making daily travel risky and unsafe. Despite the problem persisting for a long time, the administration appears indifferent, failing to take concrete steps to address this basic civic issue.
Notably, important routes under Patiala such as the Rajpura–Sirhind Bypass, Jalalpur Road, Noorkheria Road, along with many other connecting roads, are still awaiting the installation of street lights. These roads witness the movement of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians every day. While traffic somehow manages during daylight hours, the situation worsens drastically at night when visibility drops to near zero. In several locations, existing street lights are either non-functional or damaged, but no efforts have been made to repair or replace them.
Local residents state that the lack of street lighting has led to an increase in road accidents, especially involving two-wheelers, pedestrians, school-going children, and night-shift workers. Potholes, broken road surfaces, and sudden movement of vehicles in poorly lit areas often result in serious mishaps. Moreover, the prevailing darkness has become a breeding ground for anti-social elements, increasing incidents of theft, snatching, and other criminal activities, thereby creating a sense of fear among commuters.
People allege that while the administration continues to make tall claims about development on paper, the ground reality tells a different story. Citizens are being deprived of even the most basic amenities. Repeated complaints to the municipal corporation and concerned departments have yielded nothing but empty assurances. Neither new street lights have been installed nor have the faulty ones been repaired in a timely manner.
Social organizations and local residents have collectively demanded immediate installation of street lights on the Rajpura–Sirhind Bypass, Jalalpur Road, Noorkheria Road, and other dark stretches of the city. They warn that if the issue continues to be ignored, a major accident may occur at any time, for which the administration will be held solely responsible.
A Question to the Administration -Is the administration waiting for a major tragedy to occur before taking action, or will it finally wake up and take immediate, concrete steps to ensure proper street lighting and safeguard the lives of Patiala’s residents?
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