Paigam-e-Jagat / Maur Mandi, July 24: Upset over the relocation of the local bus stand onto the Bathinda-Chandigarh Highway, residents of Maur today blocked the highway and staged a protest, raising strong slogans against the administration and government.
Protesters said that their concerns are not being heard anywhere—neither the Municipal Council Chairman nor the MLA is responding. Since buses have stopped entering the bus stand, customers no longer come to their shops, severely affecting their livelihoods. Their only source of income is dependent on bus traffic at the stand, leaving them no choice but to protest.
In response to public pressure, the General Manager of PRTC Bathinda gave a written assurance that all PRTC buses will operate from the bus stand. Additionally, the Junior Engineer and SDO of Maur Municipal Council also gave a written commitment that the broken road would be repaired and the sewage water problem resolved within 15–20 days. Consequently, the protest was called off.
It is worth mentioning that the internal road from the bus stand toward Mansa Road and Truck Union is badly damaged. Even a little rain results in knee-deep water, due to which bus drivers avoid entering the bus stand and park along the Bathinda-Chandigarh Highway instead. This caused a severe dip in footfall for shopkeepers around the bus stand, making it difficult for them to earn their livelihood.