Bathinda, 5 August:- Even long after rainfall in Bathinda belt, water drainage on Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway remains a headache. The situation is that after some time of rain on Tuesday, 1 to 2 feet of water remained filled on the entire National Highway near Adesh Hospital, Sant Kabir School, Digital Examination Centre and Marble Market. 
This has not happened for the first time but for last about 7 years whenever it rains this road takes the form of a pond. Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway was the dream project of then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal about which he often publicized from stages that this concrete road will be so strong that even bombing will not break it.
Although in terms of breakage the concrete portion is safe but during rains this road brings a bundle of troubles. Amid such conditions vehicles passing through this road have to face heavy trouble and jam-like situation remains on the road. On Tuesday the negligence was that till evening neither the district administration nor any officer of National Highways Authority of India took notice. 
People say that every year same conditions are created on this highway. This is the main route to reach prominent educational institutions, hospitals, industrial units and business establishments on this road. Not only this, thousands of students, patients and their relatives, employees and other passersby pass through this road daily.
The reaction of passersby and those coming for their respective works towards this side is that the government has constructed such a big road but has not made proper arrangements for water drainage which is the root of the problem. As a result on Tuesday water kept showing its glory continuously for 24 hours.
 It was seen that two-wheeler scooters and other vehicles almost got stalled while the speed of big trucks, buses and canters etc. remained slow and many cars etc. kept getting switched off too. Jaswinder Singh Gill who came from Malout to know the well-being of his relative at Adesh Hospital said that NHAI daily cuts the pockets of common man through heavy toll tax rates on this National Highway so proper arrangements should be made for drainage of water.
 People doing various types of businesses including dhabas etc. at this place expressing resentment said that for last 7 years same situation has been happening during every rainy season. 
They said that the drainage system made for draining water during construction of road on the National Highway has been lying defunct for last 7 years but no permanent solution to this problem has been found by the concerned department till date.
 They said that every year during rains makeshift arrangements are made due to which it takes many days to drain rainwater. They said that during this not only common people have to face heavy troubles but their businesses also suffer big economic blow.

Project without planning is a mess
Publicity Secretary of Jamhuri Adhikar Sabha Dr. Ajitpal Singh said that projects built by governments and government institutions without any solid planning have often proved painful for common people. 
He said that crores of rupees of taxes given by common people have been spent on these National Highways and NHAI is still collecting toll tax daily but in the name of facilities it is empty. He said that Punjab Government should intervene in such matters related to public concern so that solution to crisis faced by common people can be found.

Officer did not pick up phone
When contacted to know the side regarding this matter, the Project Director of National Highways Authority of India based at Bathinda did not pick up the phone.