GMADA not sure when Airport Road will reopen

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 25

Even though nearly five months have passed since a 6-km stretch of Airport Road, from Airport Chowk to the Banur-Landran road T-point (PR 9), was closed for repair, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is still uncertain about when traffic will be restored on it. 

“The repair work is in progress. As it is dependent on weather conditions, we cannot say for sure when it will be completed,” said Sunil Kansal, GMADA Chief Engineer, when asked whether any deadline had been set for the completion of the repair work on the road.

The stretch was closed in mid-September keeping in view its deplorable condition and fatal accidents on a particular spot. It had later come out during a survey of the road that it was constructed on “black cotton” soil, which had to be dug out and replaced during the repair. The road had got severely damaged as earth was not laid in its foundation as per the specifications.

Besides, it was also found that substandard material was used during its construction. As the GMADA authorities had held the contractor responsible for the wearing out of the road, he was directed to carry out the repair work, involving an expenditure of around Rs 15 crore, free of cost. 

A special four-member committee had also formed by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, for suggesting measures to repair the stretch. The committee had set December 15 as the deadline for reopening the road for vehicles. 

The repair work was in progress, said GMADA officials. “Now, the road has been dug up in patches to the sub-grade level and then re-laid with good quality material under the supervision of experts. The bituminous work is under way on the left side of the road. On the right side, the repair of sub-base is in progress,” said Kansal.