OKARA, June 23: The four-lane Okara bypass, which was meant for smooth and swift passage for motors has become a pain for its users because of its kilometers-long patchy and rugged stretch.

The 12-kilometre passage was opened to traffic in Dec 2006 and President Pervez Musharraf formally opened it in Feb 2007.

The project, which was completed at a cost of Rs650 million, could not live up to the expectation of the public as just months after its inaugural, it started showing signs of weariness. The authorities drummed up some enthusiasm for the project calling it a unique and the most beautiful passage among all bypasses in the Punjab.

Within a year of its opening, the bypass has been repaired many times but every time a stretch is rehabilitated, the other part develops bumps and cracks. However, the most annoying patch one encounters is on the right lane while traveling from Okara to Lahore. This part is uneven and damages the tyres of vehicles as earth-filing has not been done properly. Side lanes along either side of the passage are not fit for smooth traffic.

There are 10 underpasses on the bypass but when it rains, they are choked due to faulty drainage pipelines and rainwater blocks them. Even though it rained heavily on Sunday (June 22) but choked underpasses could not be opened to traffic despite the passage of 24 hours. Due to the closure of underpasses, people from 50 villages who use these underpasses to approach the Okara city are cut off with the city.

A number of people from the 4/L area criticised the government for not arresting the contractors and officials responsible for using substandard material. They also demanded the rehabilitation of service lanes and an overhead bridge at 4/L village. —Aslam Piracha