TAXILA: Large potholes have appeared on the G.T. Road in Taxila after recent monsoon rainfall, which the National Highway Authority (NHA) has yet to repair.

The G.T. Road is one of the busiest roads in the city, but its many ditches and overall dilapidated condition speaks to the apathy of the NHA. Ditches more than a foot deep have appeared in at least five places on the road after the recent rainfall, leaving traffic stalled for hours as drivers attempt to navigate around them.

Traffic in particular is choked at a patch of around 100 metres at the underpass and another near Kalla Bridge. Because of the accumulation of rainwater on Kalla Bridge, many vehicles, including heavy trailers, were stuck in that area for a long time.

It is also common to see people pushing their vehicles, after they come to a stop because of excessive water in their mechanical parts.

The ditches also increase the risk of accidents after nightfall, particularly when rainwater is standing on the road, which is especially dangerous for motorcyclists.

“No maintenance work has been carried out on [portions of] the G.T. Road that have been damaged for a long time, Goods Transport Union President Nisar Khan said. He added that many trucks and dumpers loaded with sand and crushed stone have broken down at Kalla Bridge and near the underpass because of the potholes, causing traffic jams and losses to vehicle owners.

Umer Khan, who manages an inter-district transport company at the Taxila bus stand, expressed similar views on the state of the G.T. Road.

He said the concerned authorities, especially the NHA’s poor planning and road engineering had caused losses to vehicle owners, as well as traffic accidents involving motorcyclists and traffic jams when rainwater accumulates in broken down parts of the road.

Other roads in Taxila city have not fared well due to the ongoing rainfall either. Faisal Shaheed Road, Hattar Road, Railway Road and Museum Road have all developed craters and potholes, and accumulated water has ruined the carpeting of roads and caused more ditches to emerge.

“The entire Faisal Shaheed Road, especially near Taxila Chowk, is in a bad shape and needs urgent repair,” said Syed Imran Hiader Naqvi, a local activist.

He said that when it rains, the road is flooded and motorists have difficulty navigating it.

When contacted, NHA Deputy Director Maintenance Sabahat Ahmed Chaudhry said that the authorities are aware of the problems facing commuters on the G.T. Road in Taxila.

He said that a work order has been issued to a contractor to carry out the necessary maintenance work, and these issues will be addressed in the next week.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2020