Broken roads, open manholes: Civic woes ail Siddharth Vihar

Ghaziabad : A road cave-in after recent rains at Siddharth Vihar has brought to the fore the deteriorating civic infrastructure in the township administered by UP Housing Board . The incident is the latest in a series of civic failures plaguing the township, where residents battle not just crumbling roads, but also open sewers, and hazardous manholes.

The situation turned grim after the recent spell of showers that left large parts of the township submerged, leading to accidents. NK Negi, who moved to Siddharth Vihar from Vaishali Sector 6 three years ago, recalled, "My wife was returning home in an e-rickshaw, which turned turtle while trying to avoid a submerged pothole. She suffered injuries."

Despite repeated complaints, residents said their pleas to authorities had fallen on deaf ears. "I have been sending videos and photographs of potholed roads to housing board officials. Their standard response is the issue is being addressed. I've even lodged complaints on various govt portals, but to no avail," he added.

The infrastructure woes go beyond road conditions. Indranath Jha, a resident, pointed out dangers lurking in the township's walkways. "The pavements near Gaur Sidhartham society facing Hindon Apartments are dotted with open, unpaved manholes. A partially covered drain next to the shopping complex has become a hazard for unsuspecting residents and commuters," he said.

The problems don't end there. Satpal Malik, another resident, highlighted additional concerns. "Illegal cuts along the divider, construction waste dumped haphazardly, and non-functional streetlights on the arterial road parallel to the Ganga Jal water treatment plant have made life difficult for residents," he said.

Housing Board officials, however, attributed the issues to ongoing development. "The township is still in a developing stage, with construction work continuing in many societies. Heavy vehicles constantly move through the area and damage the roads," an official said.

He added that the board had recently completed work on a road leading to the highway to provide alternative connectivity to the township.