SDM wants PWD to hand over work to civic body

MOHALI : Faced with daily complaints about chaos and congestion on the Kharar-Gharun stretch, the Kharar administration has asked the municipal council to take possession of the 1-km stretch from Public Works Department, which cited paucity of funds to take steps to decongest the road. “Earlier, too, I had asked the PWD department to take steps to decongest the stretch, but they cited shortage of funds,” said Himanshu Jain, Kharar sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). “Now, I have asked MC’s executive officer to write to PWD to ask them to hand over possession of the stretch, so that MC can begin working to ease traffic on the stretch at the earliest. For the requisite funds, we can later approach the Punjab local government,” Jain added.

Government buildings, including offices of Kharar SDM, the DSP, Kharar court and the civil hospital, are located on the road. Elaborating on the plan, the SDM said, “We are proposing to widen the stretch to ease congestion. We will also set up barricades so traffic from either side does not mix and cause further chaos.”

He said they were also planning to relocate vendors who have blocked the stretch.

“They will get a separate spot for business. The plan will be rolled out soon,” he said.

Talking about the daily hassles faced by commuters, SDM said even ambulances to and fro from the civil hospital get stuck on the stretch. “Once the problem is sorted, people will heave a sigh of relief,” he said. However, executive officer of Kharar MC, Sangeet Kumar, said he was not aware of the development. “I will have to check,” he said.