In a clear lapse of urban planning, an uncoordinated sewerline excavation in Lucknow’s Babuganj neighbourhood has disrupted daily life for over 10,000 residents and commuters, causing widespread chaos across the densely populated stretch linking Daliganj Bridge to IT Crossing.
The abrupt road closure, without a robust traffic management plan, has forced vehicles into serpentine detours through extremely narrow residential lanes, triggering gridlocks, damaging inner roads, and threatening the safety and livelihoods of thousands. Currently, only one constricted alleyway—winding behind a local university and through a small commercial pocket—remains accessible. The passage, however, is suitable only for two-wheelers, leaving four-wheelers stranded and restricting access to basic services including emergency vehicles. Locals complain that inadequate foresight from the authorities has turned their daily commute into an exhausting ordeal. The neighbourhood’s fragile road infrastructure, now burdened with diverted traffic, is deteriorating rapidly under the pressure. Public transport vehicles such as autos and taxis have stopped servicing the area altogether, worsening last-mile connectivity.
Residents, already grappling with doubled commute times and blocked access to schools, offices, and medical services, express growing frustration with the lack of civic accountability. Small businesses along the stretch, once bustling, now wear a deserted look. Footfall has plummeted as consumers avoid the route entirely, cutting off vital revenue to local retailers and service providers. This domino effect has exposed the underlying fragility of urban transport and mobility in the city’s core areas, where even a single infrastructure faultline can bring life to a grinding halt.
The contractor behind the ongoing work reportedly began the project ahead of Eid, aiming for a two-month completion window. But operational roadblocks, including tangled underground utilities such as railway and electricity lines, have impeded progress. In nearly three weeks, the team has managed to lay just 100 metres of the pipeline—far below the projected 10–15 metres per day—raising serious questions about planning efficiency and project oversight. The pipeline trench itself is reportedly five metres deep and precariously close to residential buildings, raising red flags about safety norms being followed in proximity to urban homes.
Officials now claim the work is being carried out at multiple locations simultaneously in an attempt to stay on schedule. While confidence remains high within the implementing agency, residents say the real need is not just faster execution but empathetic, community-first governance. The absence of community consultation and traffic coordination has turned a necessary development exercise into a full-blown civic emergency.
As India’s cities pursue sustainable urban transformation, the case of Babuganj underscores the vital need for integrating people-centric planning with climate-resilient infrastructure. Transparent communication, local involvement, and route diversions that consider pedestrian safety and business continuity must no longer be afterthoughts. While the promise of improved sanitation and infrastructure remains valuable in the long term, the human cost of negligence in implementation cannot be ignored. The episode serves as a stark reminder that building equitable and eco-friendly cities starts with respecting the everyday lives of the people who inhabit them.
Lucknow Locals Struggle as Roads Remain Blocked
