While grand claims are being made about transforming urban areas into smart cities through the CM Grid scheme, the sluggish pace of development projects by the municipal corporation is frustrating residents in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. Municipal authorities have dug up roads in various parts of the city for infrastructure work, but months have passed without bringing these projects to completion. This prolonged delay forces commuters to endure severe difficulties on a daily basis, with people frequently falling into uncovered potholes and sustaining injuries.
Smart city road construction hangs in limbo for six months
Under the CM Grid scheme, the Firozabad Municipal Corporation undertook the task of widening and rebuilding the stretch from Nalband Crossing Shikohabad Adda up to the Rasoolpur police station. Local residents point out that construction on this vital route has been dragging on for the past six months without reaching completion. Municipal contractors spent months working near the edges of the road, yet the project remains unfinished. When residents question the delay, contractors dismiss them curtly, telling them not to worry and claiming the road will eventually be built.
Allegations of arbitrariness and mounting woes during monsoon
Local resident Mohammad Shabir stated that contractors and officials are executing the project in an arbitrary manner. The road was excavated months ago and left unattended with no tangible progress on development. With the ongoing monsoon season, rainwater accumulates heavily in the potholes, causing unsuspecting commuters to fall in and get hurt. Despite these hazards, no authority addresses public complaints. Construction work is currently halted, and contractors maintain that activity will resume only after the rainy season completely ends.
Potholes turn the busy route into a hazard for e-rickshaws and pedestrians
Another resident, Faheem, noted that while the road is being widened, it serves as a heavily congested corridor. A major bangle market operates nearby, resulting in continuous movement of vehicles and e-rickshaws. With the roadway heavily excavated and dotted with deep pits, e-rickshaw drivers and passersby frequently get trapped and flip over, suffering injuries. This ruined road has turned into a major hazard for everyday travelers, while municipal officials continue to ignore the escalating crisis.
