Lying in disrepair for 13 months, Ghaziabad road kicks up dust

GHAZIABAD: Residents of Vaishali have complained about broken roads, dust pollution and encroachment across several areas. They said the stretch under the elevated road near Supertech Residency in Sector 5 has remained in disrepair for 13 months now. In Sector 1, residents alleged encroachment along the drain wall in front of Mahagun Mall. A large pothole has developed on a road in Sector 4, near the metro station. Similarly, the road in Harshvardhan Marg in Sector 5 is damaged and covered in dust. The damaged road causes commuting difficulties and frequent traffic jams during peak hours, while the dust worsens air pollution. Residents demand urgent repairs to improve safety and prevent accidents.“The roads in our area are in extremely poor condition. Apart from the roads mentioned above, open drains also pose a life-threatening situation,” said Sanjay Sharma, a resident of Vaishali.Locals said that many roads in the area have developed potholes, causing inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians. “Even more concerning is the fact that the drains along the roadsides are deep and open, without any covers or safety barriers. At night, especially during fog and darkness, these open drains are nothing short of "death traps," where people, children, and vehicles are at risk of falling in,” said Pushkar Rawat, another resident of the area.While social activist Sunil Vaidya has written to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) on the matter, he claims that the situation persists despite numerous complaints. “The safety of citizens is paramount, and this negligence could lead to a major accident at any time,” said Vaidya, who also marked a copy of his letter to the district magistrate.Residents also demanded safety covers on open drains to ensure the safety of citizens, as well as checks on excessive encroachment on the sidewalks and green belts along the roads, making it difficult for people to walk.A response from GMC is awaited on the matter.