ARA NEEDS A FOUR-LANE ELEVATED ROAD FROM POWERGANJ TO DHOBIGHATAWA

18-JULY-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Bihar's historic city Ara is no longer just a symbol of history, but has become a major center of growing population, economic activities and urbanization. But it is a matter of regret that the traffic structure of Ara is still stuck on the old track. The road from Powerganj ROB to Dhobi Ghatwa, the busiest route of the city, has remained a symbol of traffic jam and chaos for years.

Every day thousands of two-wheelers, four-wheelers, heavy cargo vehicles and pedestrians pass through this route, but due to the narrow and dilapidated road system, the speed of the entire city has come to a halt. The road from Powerganj to Bihari Mill Mathiya via Dhobi Ghatwa has become the biggest hotspot of traffic jam. Especially during office hours, school time and busy market hours, the situation becomes so bad that people remain stranded for hours.

Local people say that due to traffic jams every day, school children, office-going employees, patients, ambulances, everyone has to face trouble. Forget about walking, it has become difficult for even cyclists and bikers to find their way. Encroachment in front of shops, broken roads and waterlogging during the rainy season have made the situation even more frightening.

Passengers say that the traffic police also often seem helpless in this problem. It has now become common for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire brigades to stop in hours-long traffic jams, which hinders the arrival of help on time and sometimes even puts people's lives in danger.

Many social organizations, trade boards, local public representatives and citizen forums of the city say that the biggest need for Ara city at this time is the construction of a four-lane elevated road from Powerganj to Dhobi Ghatwa. If an elevated road is built on this route, then passenger and cargo vehicles from above will be able to reach their destination without interruption at a fast speed and local people below will get the option of comfortable movement.

Experts believe that the construction of this road will be a permanent solution to the city's biggest problem of traffic jams. Along with this, connectivity to railway station, bus stand, Ara-Chhapra bridge and business areas will become easier.

From a business point of view also, this elevated road will play an important role in the development of Ara. Local markets will get relief, time will be saved and business activities will accelerate. Apart from this, access to hospitals, emergency services and educational institutions will be easy, which will also improve the quality of social security and health services.

Santosh Kumar, a businessman from Powerganj area, says, "We have been stuck in traffic jams for years. Many times customers return. If an elevated road is built above, then we local people will be able to travel comfortably below and big vehicles will pass above. This will prove to be a game changer for Ara city."

Similarly, Ramesh Yadav, a resident of Dhobi Ghatwa, says, "We are fed up of getting stuck in traffic every day. The government should take this road as a priority and get the DPR prepared soon and start construction."

The local people demand that the Bihar government and the road construction department should seriously consider this plan and prepare the DPR (Detailed Project Report) as soon as possible and include it in the state plan. Also, the process of land acquisition and budget approval should be expedited.

Experts say that this project will not only be road construction but will be the new foundation stone for the development of Ara city. If a decision is not taken in this direction in time, the situation may become more dire in the future.