The poor civic condition of Kapurthala and the failure of successive governments to address basic issues affecting inhabitants’ daily lives have drawn steep criticism from residents.
Residents in recent times highlighted a range of unresolved challenges, including traffic congestion, stray dogs, illegal encroachments, unauthorised hoardings, poor sanitation and inadequate civic management.
Advocate Anuj Anand, resident of Kapurthala, noted individuals were increasingly frustrated by the widening gap between political promises and ground realities. He said while residents fulfil their responsibilities by paying taxes and following the law, they have every right to anticipate safe roads, clean surroundings, accessible footpaths, effective traffic management and protection from civic hazards.
Enforcement of laws, removal of illegal encroachments, regulation of hoardings, traffic management and implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme are responsibilities that the authorities must discharge effectively, he said.
Another resident Sachin Kumar said traffic congestion had become a routine problem across the city. Haphazard parking, vehicles occupying footpaths, roadside food stalls, vegetable vendors and encroachments have significantly lowered available road space. As a consequence, pedestrians are regularly forced to walk on busy roads because footpaths are either blocked or encroached upon.
Residents also voiced concern over the growing menace of stray dogs. They noted people carry on to face the threat of dog attacks, while the absence of an effective and sustained ABC programme raises serious questions about the officials’ preparedness and priorities. Repeated grievances and representations have failed to yield a satisfactory solution, they added.
The unchecked display of illegal hoardings and banners on road signs, public buildings, bus shelters and other public infrastructure was cited as another example of administrative failure. The locals said the unauthorised advertisements obstruct visibility, inconvenience commuters and compromise public safety.
Residents asserted that the performance of chosen representatives and civic officials should be judged by tangible results rather than political claims, publicity campaigns or occasional announcements.
They urged the administration and departments to prepare and implement a time-bound action plan to tackle these issues. Responsibility must be fixed, regular monitoring ensured and visible results delivered instead of another round of assurances, they said.
