Delhi elections: Congestion, poor roads, sewerage key concern for Malviya Nagar

New Delhi: The bustling market of Malviya Nagar might be doing great business but residents are cribbing about cramped spaces, sewage problems, broken roads, lack of footpaths and parking areas.

With widespread disgruntlement among residents over performance of sitting MLA and Education Minister Kiran Walia, BJP`s nominee Arti Mehra appears to be in an advantageous position in the constituency. The AAP has fielded Somnath Bharti in the seat where a total of 16 candidates are in the fray. "We do not have proper footpaths and the existing ones are also being encroached upon by hawkers and vegetable and fruit sellers. Nobody is concerned about the pedestrians," Malviya Nagar B-block RWA member Kulbir Singh said. Raising the issue of traffic congestion in the area, Singh said his neighbour, an elderly man, had suffered a heart attack and passed away while being taken to the hospital last month. "We could not reach the nearest hospital due to traffic congestion," he lamented. Even though electricity and water are available throughout the day, another RWA member of nearby Begumpur complained about high electricity and water bills "Earlier we used to pay mere Rs 500 to Rs 600 for water, but since its privatisation we end up paying over Rs 2000 for water alone," 54-year-old Suresh Dua said. Lack of proper sewage line has been a major problem for all Begumpur residents, who claim that last year due to leakage in the sewage pipeline the drinking water got contaminated. "We cannot invite guests at home because the sewage stench is so strong that you can smell it even inside the house... We are ashamed to be a resident of Begumpur," Dua said. Identifying "poor security" as another major issue, he said 27 car batteries were stolen from the area recently. He also said taps and other accessories have been stolen from public toilets in Malviya nagar, which has led to huge wastage of water that keeps flowing from the broken pipes. Taking credit for reconstruction of dilapidated road outside Malviya Nagar Metro station, the RWA members of B-block and Shivalik apartments said multiplicity of authority has created confusion due to which work is not completed in time.