June 7 deadline ends, dug-up roads continue to disrupt daily life in Doon

Dehradun: A day after the June 7 deadline set by the district administration for completing all public utility works on city roads, debris, pipes and damaged stretches continued to inconvenience residents and commuters across several parts of Dehradun.During visits to Kanwali road, Saharanpur Chowk, Patel Nagar, Dharampur and the Sahastradhara road stretch towards Kirsali Chowk, TOI found that while digging and cable-laying work had largely been completed, debris, pipes and construction material remained piled along roadsides and footpaths. In areas such as Model Colony, Dalanwala and Convent road, work was still underway and roads remained dug up. At several locations, pedestrian pathways were blocked and traffic movement continued to be affected.During visits to Kanwali road, Saharanpur Chowk, Patel Nagar, Dharampur and the Sahastradhara road stretch towards Kirsali Chowk, TOI found that while digging and cable-laying work had largely been completed, debris, pipes and construction material remained piled along roadsides and footpaths. In areas such as Model Colony, Dalanwala and Convent road, work was still underway and roads remained dug up. At several locations, pedestrian pathways were blocked and traffic movement continued to be affected.Shopkeepers said excessive dust from unattended debris had made business difficult. Many have put up plastic sheets at shop entrances to keep dust out. “We can’t sit at the shop now without risking our health. We are falling ill because of it. Pipes lying in front of my shop for weeks were removed a few days ago, but there is still no relief from the debris. There is also no regular water sprinkling, so dust continues to spread,” said Vinod Fanta, a shopkeeper at Saharanpur Chowk.Residents also expressed concern over the approaching monsoon. A Dharampur resident said power lines had been laid weeks ago, but damaged roads and debris continued to affect daily life. “Authorities should complete work in one area before moving to another. People cannot wait for years for all projects to finish. Now we may have to spend the monsoon with broken roads. Rain will turn these dusty stretches into muddy patches, create more potholes and increase the risk of accidents, especially for two-wheeler riders,” he said.Footpaths at several locations, including Dharampur, Saharanpur road and Sahastradhara road, were found damaged due to excavation work. Sahastradhara road resident Rikki Butaliya said, “Footpaths are already occupied by vendors and parked two-wheelers. Now many stretches have also been damaged during the work. There is hardly any space left for people to walk safely.”Instances of utility infrastructure being damaged during the works were also reported by residents. Kanwali road resident SK Singh said a water pipeline in his area was damaged during excavation, disrupting supply for many days. “Work should not be carried out in a way that one utility project disrupts every other system. Electrical distribution boxes should not come up directly in front of shop entrances, parking spaces or residential gates. Otherwise, it will only create more mismanagement,” he said.Another Kanwali road resident Vipin Kumar said excavation had been carried out right up to the entrance of his shop and adjoining residence. He also expressed concern that digging close to his underground sewage tank could damage it. “They have dug right up to the entrance of both my shop and home. Pipes have been lying on the footpath for weeks, blocking access. The excavation has reached very close to my underground sewage tank. If it gets damaged, it will create a major problem for us,” Kumar said.Responding to the concerns, Arun Kant, executive engineer, UPCL, said the utility had completed almost all the work within the deadline set by the administration. “Now we will wait to see what the administration decides, taking into consideration the weather conditions,” he added.Acknowledging that debris and pipes were still lying at several locations, Kant said removal work would begin immediately. “Our focus until yesterday was on completing the project within the stipulated deadline. The debris and pipes lying across the city will be removed today,” he said, adding that the next phase would involve repairing infrastructure affected during the cable-laying work.