[sustran] ‘Your foot overbridges are of no use, why invest more’

[Asija, Navdeep]

HC TO GMADA Bench says since the development authority had constructed
these bridges, it won’t it ask for dismantling, but there was no need for
escalators

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Greater
Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) not to invest in the installation
of escalators/elevators on foot overbridges (FOBs) as it was of no use.
HT FILEThe FOBs were built without any scientific study, a study by Punjab
traffic adviser said. With no pedestrians using it, advertisements on it
act as a distraction for commuters, the HC was informed.

Beginning 2011, GMADA has spent more than `2 crore on constructing four
FOBs.

“We could have asked you to dismantle it (the FOBs). But you have spent so
much of money. But let’s not invest more as it is of no use,” the high
court bench observed during a hearing on the issue, where it had sought a
response from GMADA on a report submitted to it by Punjab traffic adviser
Navdeep Asija.

GMADA chief administrator AK Sinha had argued that footfall on the FOBs
would increase in due course of time as escalators were installed and
traffic increased.

Punjab traffic adviser, Navdeep Asija had told the HC that the volume of
traffic was not very high and there was no need of such an infrastructure.
“If escalators are not installed, at least we would save on the electricity
usage on this,” Asija said, adding that these were acting as traffic
hazards as there were hoardings on these. Following this, the HC bench
directed GMADA to remove these hoardings.

‘FOBs APPROVED BY CM, BADAL’

GMADA told the HC that the decision to construct the FOBs was taken in
meeting chaired by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is chairman
Punjab Urban Planning and Urban Development Authority (PUDA).

The decision was taken for better development and upgrade of basic
amenities in SAS Nagar. However, the court observed that GMADA could not
escape responsibility.

“Some officer should have examined all these aspects. You cannot expect the
CM to look into all these things. He is not an expert,” the HC said.

GMADA added that FOBs were constructed in view of future vehicular as well
as pedestrian traffic.

Not even a single death has been reported in these places, the authority
claimed. On ads, GMADA said that the FOBs were handed over to SAS Nagar
administration. The court later asked GMADA to file a compliance report and
not to make any future investment.

BACKGROUND

GMADA was asked to submit a report after Asija claimed that three of the
FOBs had been constructed at places where pedestrians were not prone to
accidents. “The FOBs were built without any scientific study,” Asija’s
report added.