200-foot-wide road at New Chandigarh in tatters

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 4

After the poor-quality construction of Airport Road in Mohali led to a portion of the road being shut and a Vigilance inquiry ordered, another major road built during the tenure of the SAD government is under the lens as major defects in its construction have come to light.

A drive along the 7-km-long, 200-foot-wide road, leading from Chandigarh to the Siswan T-point in New Chandigarh, Mullanpur, revealed that two of the three overbridges on this stretch have been partially closed for major repairs. 

As some parts of both flyovers have caved in, GMADA had to close one side (from the Siswan T-point to the Chandigarh side) of both flyovers for repairs. The road was built around two years ago and a whopping Rs 130 crore was spent on its construction. 

According to sources in GMADA, SP Singh, aka Bhalwan, a former Chief Engineer of the department, had handled the project. Bhalwan had also handled the Airport Road project and at present, he is in the police net on corruption charges.

GMADA Chief Engineer Sunil Kansal said they had to shut the flyovers following caving in of a stretch. “Apparently some substandard material was used in the construction of the road. Our priority is to make the road fit for travel after the repairs,” said Kansal.  

A local resident, Roop Chand, said the closure of the bridge had created a traffic hazard as diversion of vehicles to the opposite side had resulted in several accidents. “The authorities have put up some drums on the road to divert the traffic. As no reflectors have been put on the drums and the board displaying the diversion sign, several accidents take place here, especially at night,” said Roop Chand, who lives nearby.

Besides, several huge pits have been formed in the middle of the road at several places, posing a threat to commuters. 

The road, which witnesses huge traffic, is largely used by commuters from the Kurali and Baddi side to Chandigarh and Panchkula.