‘Arterial blockage’ near PGI

APATHY Road work during the day results in inconvenience to patients and commuters

LUCKNOW: With scant regard for commuters, medical staff, patients and their kin, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) started constructing the road in front of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) during the day time on Wednesday.

The work blocked the road, leaving a narrow space for movement of vehicles coming on the highway from both the sides.

Following this, a heavy traffic jam around 2.5 kms long came up on both sides of the road.

Angry locals protested the decision of NHAI to construct the road during the busy hours without thinking about the plight of patients coming to the premier medical institute for treatment.

“The NHAI officials did not even bother about who would be responsible if something untoward happened to one of these patients,” said Dr PK Gupta, who runs a pathology near the PGI.

He said that construction on the highway near hospital should be done during the night and such activities must be avoided during the busy hours.

However, traffic policemen reached the spot when they came to know abut the jam on Rae Bareli Road near PGI. They approached the NHAI officials and contractors present on the occasion but by then damage was done.

The jam continued from 1.30 pm to 5 pm, making plying of vehciles and ambulances difficult.

Officials of NHAI refused to comment over the issue when aproached by Hindustan Times.