While the administration is apparently scaling new heights for the city when it comes to SmArT CiTy ranking, the roads are in pathetic condition since the sewerage work has started. Not just the main roads, but even the colonies are suffering – be it unconstructed roads, dirty nullahs or garbage scattered on the roads – outside homes.

Sai Vihar is one such helpless colony. This colony is situated on the road that takes you from HM Sector 9 to Ambafala and Kolamagri. The residents are living in pitiful conditions due to the roads being in bad shape.

The school autos and other vehicles that used to come to pick up the children have also given up. No school transport is willing to come into the colony due to the state of the roads. As per the residents of the colony, written as well as verbal complains have been made to the UIT, but no respite is in sight. Monsoons have made the situation worse. Filth and dirty water on the roads have made them unusable. Children and women dare not venture on the roads. Two wheelers have been meeting with accidents almost everyday.

Over 50 families reside in this colony. The residents have also deposited the development fee that is mandatorily charged by the UIT.

Another case is that of garbage, in an otherwise neat colony populated primarily by the Bohra community, Bhagwan Kharol being the local Councilor. The roads are in good condition and the garbage vehicle comes in time.

However, the entry point of the colony, which is near the Vidhyabhawan Boys hostel, is not such a welcome sight to be in. The entry point has become a dumping ground for garbage and cows, dogs, pigs and buffaloes are seen loitering in the garbage, making the life of neighbors miserable. The stench of the garbage and omnipresent dogs and pigs make it dangerous for children and women to walk on this road.

This road is the entry point to over 200 houses in Kharol Colony, with two Masjids in the vicinity. The filth and stench not only make it impossible for the residents, but even for passers by, who opt to choose longer routes to get into the colony. The nullahs are filled with garbage and pigs and dogs.

It seems that the local councilor has turned a blind eye to this aspect at the entry point of his Ward – 1.

The municipality and UIT, instead of working on WiFi across the city and centralised surveillance with substandard equipment, focus on first solving the genuine issues of residents, who are all in support of the city when the need arises.

However, apart from the administration, it is the local residents of the area who should also ensure that the road side is not a garbage dumping ground.