Construct foot overbridges in Zirakpur, say residents

MOHALI: Zirakpur residents have requested the municipal council to construct foot overbridges on some major roads where the traffic volume is high so that it’s easier for the pedestrians to move around. Foot overbridges will ensure the safety of the pedestrians too.
For the past two months, the locals have been constantly writing to the MC officials to construct foot overbridges over the national highway to provide safe passage to the residents to cross the road.
The residents said that the proposal of the foot overbridge should be mooted now that the Zirakpur Municipal Council (ZMC) realised how dangerous it is for the pedestrians to cross the roads. The locals also said that the number of pedestrian accidents in Zirakpur has reportedly increased in the past few months.
In fact, ZMC counsellors and some residents have been conducting rough survey on some roads, especially the Zirakpur-Panchkula-Ambala-Chandigarh-Patiala road. These are the major roads where the residents need foot overbridges.
Meanwhile, ZMC officials said the proposal of the residents to construct foot overbridge over the national highway will be discussed in the MC house meeting scheduled next week.
ZMC president Kulwinder Sing Sohi said, “Residents have been requesting us to construct the foot overbridges but we can’t do much on this as it is duty of the NHAI. As per rules, the suggestion of the residents will be discussed in the house meeting. The proposal will be sent to the NHAI for clearance after which the next step would be taken.”
Sohi further added, “It is our duty to listen to the problems of the public. For the construction of the foot overbridge, we will also hire a consultant who would assess the vehicular traffic volume on all the connecting roads. The rush of the pedestrians before the construction of the foot overbridges will also be studied.”
The MC officials stated that a private company will have to be appointed to draw the design of the bridge. The tendering process would be initiated after getting the NOC from NHAI. Meanwhile, a NHAI official said they would look into the proposal, which will be sent to them by ZMC.