Despite crores of rupees being spent under the Smart City Mission, the deteriorating condition of Bhagtanwala Chowk and the public toilets located there has raised serious concerns about the quality of civic infrastructure and maintenance in the city.
Despite crores of rupees being spent under the Smart City Mission, the deteriorating condition of Bhagtanwala Chowk and the public toilets located there has raised serious concerns about the quality of civic infrastructure and maintenance in the city.
Alleging gross neglect of public amenities, Congress leader and former councillor Jagdeep Singh Rinku Narula has demanded a probe into the utilisation of Smart City funds and accused the government of failing to provide basic facilities on the ground.
During a visit to the Bhagtanwala Gate area, Rinku said the condition of the chowk and public toilets stood in stark contrast to the development claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party government. He questioned whether the present state of the site reflected the government’s much-publicised model of urban development.
He alleged that the public toilets lacked proper sanitation and maintenance, rendering them unfit for use by residents and visitors. According to him, the facilities have increasingly become a gathering point for drug addicts, creating inconvenience and safety concerns for commuters, shopkeepers, women and local residents.
“The government is showcasing dreams of clean and modern cities, but the reality on the ground is entirely different. The condition of public amenities in the area exposes the hollowness of these claims,” he said.
Rinku pointed out that the area lies on an important city route through which thousands of people, including officials and public representatives, pass every day. Despite this, he alleged, the issue has remained ignored by the authorities.
He further claimed that the condition of children’s parks and parks meant for senior citizens in the Amritsar South constituency also reflected the failure of the government’s development agenda. He alleged that although crores of rupees were sanctioned under the Smart City project, questions remain about how the funds were utilised.
Demanding a high-level inquiry, Rinku said the public has the right to know how taxpayers’ money was spent. “The utilisation of Smart City grants should be thoroughly investigated and the findings should be placed before the public,” he said.
He maintained that development should not be measured through advertisements, hoardings and official claims, but through the quality of civic amenities available to citizens and visible improvements on the ground.
Rinku urged the district administration and the departments concerned to immediately undertake repair, maintenance and cleanliness drives at Bhagtanwala Chowk, public toilets, parks and other public facilities so that residents can receive the benefits promised under the Smart City Mission.