Amritsar: Former Improvement Trust Chairman and senior Congress leader Dinesh Bassi has strongly criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and concerned departments over the deteriorating condition of the Golden Gate Daburji Flyover in Amritsar, warning that the structure has become dangerously unsafe and could collapse at any time.
Bassi expressed serious concern over public safety, stating that the flyover’s current condition poses a major threat and could lead to a tragic accident if immediate action is not taken.
He remarked that it is surprising that three AAP MLAs reside near the flyover and reportedly pass through the route daily, yet the poor condition of the structure has gone unnoticed by them. Taking a dig at the leaders, he said their silence on such a serious issue raises questions about their concern for public safety.
According to Bassi, residents of the area have been facing difficulties for years. During the construction phase, no service lane was built, causing severe inconvenience to commuters and local residents. Now, even after completion, fears of the flyover sinking or structural failure continue to create panic among people living nearby.
He added that Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla had earlier raised concerns and demanded the construction of a stronger pillar-based flyover. However, his recommendations were allegedly ignored, which has now resulted in the current situation.
Bassi further alleged that poor-quality construction was carried out due to alleged collusion between the contractor company DMR and concerned officials. He demanded immediate registration of an FIR, arrests of responsible authorities, and a high-level impartial investigation into the matter.
Appealing to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Bassi urged central intervention to seek accountability from both the contractor and the Punjab government, stating that public tax money must not be wasted through negligence.
He also highlighted that the service lane beneath the flyover remains closed, with waterlogging and sewage issues persisting despite repeated complaints to authorities, including P.D. Abdullah, without any concrete action.
Bassi claimed that the situation has worsened to such an extent that several residents are being forced to sell their homes and relocate, which he described as clear evidence of administrative failure.
