MC gives nod to open two chowks on old GT Road

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 24

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has unanimously passed a resolution to open Mahatma Gandhi Chowk and Ambedkar Chowk on Old GT Road in the city.

During a meeting of the House, it was highlighted that several roads in the city had been witnessing traffic jams due to blockades at the chowks.

Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, while chairing the meeting, raised the issue and said it was a demand of the residents that both chowks should be opened for a smooth flow of traffic. The demand was supported by Senior Deputy Mayor Krishan Garg, Deputy Mayor Manoj Wadhwa and other councillors.

Mayor Gupta said: “The road is being developed as a smart road, but for the convenience of the people, these chowks should be opened.”

She said that roads leading to the bus stand, Dyal Singh College, Old Police Lines and NDRI had been witnessing regular traffic jams due to these blockades.

Residents are keenly waiting for the opening of the chowks in hope of a regulated traffic. Parvesh Gaba, a resident, said blockades at both chowks caused inconvenience and led to traffic jams. After opening the of chowks the traffic flow on various roads would be streamlined, he said.

Krishan Garg raised the issue of illegal hoardings and advertisements on tree guards at the meeting. Replying to the question, Dheeraj Kumar, Executive Officer, MC, said no permission was given to anybody to charge money for advertisements and all hoardings and advertisements from the tree guards would be removed.

Garg said FIR should be registered against those involved in illegally advertisements in the city.

Commissioner Sumedha Kataria said with the nod of the house, they had started the process for opening the chowks. The house had also given its approval to establish a 25-bed hospital for residents living across the railway lines, she said.

“It was a long-pending demand of the residents and around one lakh people living in nearly 25 colonies across the railway lines would be benefited,” said Mayor Gupta.

On the demand of Kashmiri Pandits, a community centre would be constructed for them, she said, added that the MC would develop Narsi village which was recently transferred to the MC.