Mohali, Aug. 28 -- Tired of waiting for civic relief, residents across Kharar have begun repairing battered stretches themselves, pooling money and manpower. They've pooled over Rs.1 lakh to repair the most affected area of Nijjer Road near Raman Enclave. Locals say the roads turn into a muddy mess after rain and into choking dust bowls in dry spells, making daily movement unsafe and exhausting. The Chajju Majra Road and Nijjer Road, under 3-km-long, remains the worst-affected despite serving more than five to six housing societies with over 20 flats each. The stretch caters to Gardenia SBP Homes, SBP Homes, Acme Heights, Model Town, and Sawaraj Enclave, besides several others. Ground checks show no administrative repair. After repeated dharnas and complaints failed, residents of Ward 13 started working on the road on their own. Paramveer Singh, a local, said they raised funds through a local WhatsApp group. "Seeing the urgency, we asked people in our area to contribute. We have around 700 members in the group and 97 people contributed Rs.1.12 lakh,"he said. Students and businessmen worked together picking up shovels, hauling material because someone had to," he said. Residents are laying gatka (stones) to level slush-filled ruts where vehicles skid after showers. Resident Ravinder Singh said they have already put in significant personal money and labour. "We do not have unlimited resources, but when problems keep piling up, we fix what we can," he said. Another resident Sukhman Kaur said, that government should know what we are facing, be it rainy season, be it a clear day, we can't even walk properly on this road, and it will be shameful to call this stretch a road because it is not a road, residents are doing what administration should do." In a similar move Shivalik City residents had also launched a drive on a stretch they say falls under the NHAI's purview. "Commuters and residents were facing daily problems, so we started repairs ourselves. It was only after we began that officials showed up and started working," said Harjeet Singh Pannu, a social activist. The condition of the Chajju Majra road has also turned dangerous, with cratered portions resembling sinkholes. Residents warn that anyone unfamiliar with the area, especially at night, could hit deep cavities and crash. Public representatives, including Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Kang, have visited and assured improvements, but locals say no work has started on the ground. When asked about the citizen-led repairs, Ward 13 councillor Jasveer Kaur called the activity politically motivated. "This is a campaign with elections around the corner. I already have a Rs.5-crore project in the pipeline, but such roadworks cannot be afforded by common people, how much can they do with Rs.500-Rs.1,000?," she said. Calls made to Kharar SDM remained unanswered....