After their decades-long wait and resolute struggle, the residents, pedestrians and shopkeepers of Radio Station Colony have finally got a moment to rejoice with the R&B department starting round the clock work to complete the drainage project by the end of this month.
The residents had been demanding the construction of a drain along Chobia link road to Radio Station. Their protracted struggle and wait have come to an end, as a matter of relief, especially for students and shopkeepers of this Colony as the R&B department has expedited work on drainage along All India Radio Bhaderwah.
Rejoicing shopkeepers and residents have expressed their gratitude to the R&B department Bhaderwah for listening to their vows and initiating the work on the much awaited construction of the drain. According to them, the dilapidated drain was an eyesore as all the garbage and wrappers would spread on the road during the rainy season.
“Chobia link road is the life-line of Bhaderwah valley and the most crowded road as this is the main road link which connects the town with the rest of the Valley. However, in absence of a proper drainage system all the garbage and drain water from the town used to get spread over here making it difficult for pedestrians, especially students to walk. This road stretch becomes flooded and full of filth,” said Mushtaq Butt, a local shopkeeper.
“We are grateful to the R&B department as they listened to our problems and initiated the work well in time. The work is going on at a rapid pace and the quality of work is also being maintained as the department has maintained a strict vigil on quality control,” Mushtaq added.
“We have suffered a lot as due to the continuous stink emanating from the garbage spread over the road here, no one used to halt in our area. We are thankful to authorities for fulfilling our long pending demand. We are hopeful that finally now we will get rid of this problem,” said Surinder Kumar, a local shopkeeper.
Meanwhile R&B authorities said that they have maintained a strong vigil on quality control and on the pace of work.
“The estimated project cost of this drain along Radio Station was Rs 9.77 lakh but we received the lowest tender bid of Rs 6.70 lakh. The work is being expedited. It is going on round the clock and by the end of February, the work will be completed and the drain will be made functional,” said Bal Krishan Virdhi, AEE R&B Chobia Link Road.