Punjnad bridge awaits repairs

PUNJNAD Headworks bridge near the historic town of Uch Sharif, about 70km from here, has been in a dilapidated condition for the last two years.

In the absence of any repairs, it poses a serious threat to a large number of vehicles that use it everyday.

The headworks was built in 1938. With the passage of time its bridge was repaired and widened to meet the need of growing traffic. But, later on, there were lapses in its maintenance with the result that its condition started deteriorating.

At present the road over the bridge carries potholes at several points. Some of the potholes are deep enough to cause problems to vehicles. A trailer was caught in one of the potholes recently. It blocked traffic for several hours causing a lot of inconvenience to commuters in scorching heat.

The highway department, which earns over Rs62 million annually from the toll tax, is least bothered to maintain the bridge used by up-country and down-country traffic. Long vehicles to and from Karachi use this road called it Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar (KLP) Road.

An official of the government department concerned declined to comment on the negligence of the responsible officials, adding that it was up to the high-ups to plan the repair of the bridge since it involves huge funding.

RESIDENTS of Channi Goth near Ahmedpur East have protested against the apathy of the highways department for neglecting the repair of the National Highway’s stretch from the overhead bridge to the office of the local market committee.

Owing to its bad condition, road accidents occur frequently.

Work on the project was taken in hand some time ago during the dualisation of the highway. But after the laying of the earth, the work was stopped. Now, for 24 hours, the town remains engulfed in suspended dust because of the movement of heavy vehicles.

THE provision of potable water in Satellite Town and its adjacent localities is a major problem of large number of citizens.

The sub-soil water in these residential colonies is brackish and people purchase so-called purified water from private companies or are forced to bring it from some distance by hiring donkey carts. With increase in temperature, the problem has aggravated.

Installation of water filtration plants in the commercial area of the Satellite Town, which is centrally located, may bring some relief to the people.

The residents of these new colonies have been facing drinking water problems since long. The district government says it has launched a project with the financial assistance of the ADB. But it will take several years to complete.