PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 25: A ride along the Tatanagar Overbridge Road — the only way to the railway station from central, eastern and southern pockets of Steel City — is a bone-breaking nightmare.
More than half of the one-kilometre-long route is riddled with potholes and craters inviting frequent mishaps and long jam sessions.
But, authorities – railways and the district administration are least bothered by people’s safety as they continue the blame game.
Notably, the Overbridge road is considered to be gateway to Steel City from Tatanagar railway station.
” Visitors to Steel City get a very bad impression as they are compelled to commute on the pothole-riddled Station Road and the connected Overbridge Road, ” pointed out a daily commuter.
Numerous commuters have to relive their nightmare every day while commuting on the damaged stretches of the overbridge and the Station Road to catch a train from Tatanagar railway station for various destinations.
Vehicles often break down on the damaged road, leading to long traffic jams. Many miss trains.
The problem is not new but is existing for over four months now. Despite commuters complaining to railway authorities responsible for the road’s upkeep, so far authorities have failed to repair the vital stretch on which around 50,000 vehicles ply daily.
People lodge complaints with railway authorities and district administration almost daily regarding the dilapidated road, which needs urgent repairs, but to no avail.
Railway officials, on the other hand, blame the district administration for not repairing the road.
“We have taken up the matter with the engineering department, which promised to repair the overbridge whenever the rain stops. However, its the responsibility of the district administration to repair the Station- Jugsalai Road,” said HK Balmuchu, director of Tatanagar railway station.
