The scheduled visit of President Droupadi Murmu to the Steel City on December 29 has become a catalyst for long-awaited civic improvements, offering a welcome respite to lakhs of residents. The administration has launched a sudden and comprehensive overhaul of the main roads along the presidential convoy's route, addressing issues that have plagued the area for over a year.
Roads Transformed Ahead of Presidential Convoy
The focus of the renovation is a critical more than 3km stretch between Tatanagar station and Karandih, which was notorious for being riddled with hundreds of potholes. This year's prolonged monsoon had exacerbated the problem, turning many potholes into dangerous craters. Now, a flurry of activity sees roads being relaid with tar and mortar, extending from Sonari airport to Karandih and the NIT campus in Seraikela-Kharsawan.
Beyond mere road repair, the beautification drive is in full swing. Road dividers are receiving fresh coats of paint, trees are being pruned, and a significant safety hazard—low-hanging overhead cables from internet and TV providers—is being systematically removed. Authorities have directed service providers to clear these crisscrossing wires from the convoy's path.
Long-Standing Encroachments Removed, Security Reviewed
In a decisive move, the administration has also tackled encroachments, some of which were more than 12 years old, in both Jamshedpur and Seraikela-Kharsawan. This cleanup has dramatically altered the landscape of key areas. The Seraikela-Kharsawan administration conducted a review of all preparations and security arrangements for the high-profile visit on Friday, emphasizing its alert mode.
East Singhbhum District Public Relations Officer Panchan Oraon clarified that the primary objective of the road repair work is to ensure the President's convoy moves smoothly. The fixing of overhead wires is also cited as a key security measure. Seraikela-Kharsawan DC Nitish Kumar Singh confirmed the administration's heightened state of readiness for the forthcoming visit.
Residents Hail "Miraculous" Change, Seek Sustained Effort
The rapid transformation has not gone unnoticed by citizens, who express both relief and a hope for sustained civic action. Senior central government official Rajiv Tiwari, a decade-long resident of Adityapur, remarked on the beautiful change in the approach road to NIT. He pointed out that even chronic issues like illegal parking choking the road in front of PM Mall have been resolved in the last seven days, leading him to quip that such VIP visits should occur regularly for the benefit of residents.
Echoing this sentiment, entrepreneur Amitava Charaborty from Sundernagar described his daily drive from Tatanagar station chowk as a former "nightmare" of craters, accidents, and breakdowns. He hailed the current state of the roads as a "miracle," also noting the complete cleanup of littered garbage outside the railway station. His plea to the administration is simple: to continue the good work consistently throughout the year.
While triggered by a VIP visit, the developments in Jamshedpur have highlighted the potential for rapid urban improvement and underscored the public's desire for these standards to become the norm, not just a pre-event exception.
