Patna roads waterlogged after brief spell of rain

PATNA: Several localities in the city got waterlogged after a brief spell of rain on Friday. The dug-up roads and traffic snarls added to the woes of people.
Residents of areas like Karbigahiya, Birla Mandir-Khetan Market Road, Langar Toli Mor, Ramvilas Chowk near Postal Park in Kankarbagh and Sanjay Nagar complained of waterlogging on Friday. Even some portions of Bailey Road near J D Women’s College and Station Roundabout got submerged in water.The dug-up Thakurbari Road, Nala Road and Churi Market made life difficult for people.
“This is not even heavy rainfall, but look at the roads. None can walk on these roads,” said Bhanwar Pokhar resident Pappu Kumar. Dhananjay Kumar, owner of a confectionery shop on Birla Mandir Road, said, “Even if it rains for 10 minutes, the entire road gets waterlogged. I have been seeing this condition since 1992, the year I opened my shop. This area is a commercial hub, but the business gets affected due to waterlogging. When we complain about it to PMC, they send some sanitation staff and get the chamber cleaned. However, none bothers for a permanent solution.”
Khurram Mallick, who owns a garment shop at Khetan Market, said, “Monsoon for us means no business. At a time when coronavirus has badly affected businesses, waterlogging has further complicated the situation for traders in the city,” Khurram added.
Local councillor Asfar Ahmad said he wrote several times to the authorities concerned to ensure construction of a chamber in the locality, but to no avail. “People come to me with their complaints. However, despite repeated pleas to the PMC commissioner, executive officer and other officials, nothing tangible has been done to end the problem of waterlogging in the area,” he added.
PMC commissioner Himanshu Sharma said the accumulated water was drained out from all the localities within a few hours on Friday. “Drains constructed in old localities cannot meet the present demand. As a result, these areas get waterlogged even after a brief spell of rain. We have got Rs 45 crore for construction of drains in new as well as old areas of the city. The project could not be completed on time due to coronavirus-induced lockdown,” he added.
Himanshu said certain portions of Nala Road and Thakurbari Road were dug up to sort out the waterlogging issue. “We have planned to construct a drain with an estimated expenditure of Rs 40 lakh to end the problem of waterlogging in Birla Mandir Road locality. This scheme will be taken up after monsoon,” he added.