Jamshedpur, July 24: The four-lane Tata-Kandra Road is back in news for wrong reasons again. The busy road connecting Jamshedpur to Adityapur industrial estate in Seraikela-Kharsawan district remains in dark in most of its 15 km-long stretch.
Due to defunct street-light system along with rains commuters are finding it difficult to move. Moreover, the incidents of snatching and thefts after dusk are also on the rise.
Concerned over prevailing situation due to unlit road, the local residents have lodged complaint with the Adityapur Municipal Council, road construction department and also the Jharkhand Accelerated Road Development Corporation Ltd (JARDCL), the agency assigned to maintain the road. �But despite 10 days have lapsed since the problem cropped up, nothing has been done to mend the defunct lights.
According to information, only one street-lamp is functional in a two km stretch from Kharkai Bridge to the landmark Sher-e-Punjab Chowk. �Similarly, no street-light remains lit between the Sher-e-Punjab up to Ashiana, which is another two-km stretch toward Gamharia, causing the commuters to depend on the lighting system in the shops and other business establishments. �
�We are concerned over the situation and immediate steps need to be taken to address it. We have fallen victim to the apathy of the JARDCL which is not giving heed to the problem of street lighting system. In April last year, a similar situation had cropped up, but now it being a rainy season, the extent of the commuters’ difficulty has increased manifold,” said a resident of Adityapur.
He said that the Tata-Kandra Road being a four-lane and linking to Seraikela and also Chandil, cars and heavy vehicles continues to ply on the road, causing the local residents to evade for commuting on the road after the evening.
During the past 10 days, over a dozen non-fatal mishaps took place after the sun-set. This apart two two-wheelers, including a scooter were stolen, something which is very rare in Adityapur.
Executive engineer, road construction department, Dinesh Kumar Rajak said, “The road is unlit at most of the stretch of �Tata-Kandra Road, but the street-light system is supposed to be maintained by the JARDCL, the agency which has set up the road.”
Another resident said that the rising cases of road mishaps on Tata-Kandra Road remains matter of great concern. The administration must work out on a mechanism for streamlining the traffic system. Heavy vehicles coming out of industrial units of Adityapur are the worst offenders.
Instead of keeping left and then taking a U-turn after a kilometer or so, these trucks hurtle down the wrong side, facing oncoming traffic and risking the lives of hundreds on two or four-wheelers. A strict vigil must be kept on the movement.