Cong demands specifics of construction work at site

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 3

Congress workers today raised the issue of substandard road material being used on a local road at Phagwara gate after the road contractor started the construction on a stretch from Bhagat Singh Chowk to Milap Chowk.

Stopping just short of staging a dharna, the Congress alleged that the road was narrower and used with substandard material.

After the residents and shopkeepers pointed out discrepancies in road construction work last evening, MC Commissioner GS Khehra as well as ward councillor’s husband Kuldeep Oberoi also reviewed the spot this morning.

Municipal Commissioner GS Khehra had also ordered the sampling of material used in building the road at Phagwara Gate.

While the stretch from Bhagat Singh Chowk to Milap Chowk is being constructed in Deputy Mayor Arvinder Kaur Oberoi’s Ward 29, residents alleged that substandard material was being used right under the watch of the contractor.

While Congress activists headed to the ward to protest this morning, they eventually held a meeting after the president of the Phagwara Gate Association said stopping of the road work would affect their business in the festival season.

Notably, while one side of the road falls under Deputy Mayor Oberoi’s ward, the other is under Congress district president Rajinder Beri’s wife Uma Beri’s ward.

Rajinder Beri alleged, “The road was originally to be 45 feet wide but the width was kept a mere 25 feet. The road construction was started without even informing my wife whose ward falls under the other side. On the sides left bare due to the less width of road, garbage and filth and other litter strewn around wasn’t even picked and the stones used for construction were substandard.”

“However, after the ruckus last evening, the contractor hurriedly tried to fill the roadsides with stones. A car was also run over some constructions on the road, which were broken without prior notice to anyone overnight. The councillor’s husband, though, came to the spot today and assured that he will himself make sure that the road is properly made. We have also been assured that the road sides left out, will be tiled. Our prime demand is that all the specifics like the contractor’s name, width of the road, the period of construction and other details be mentioned at the spot to prevent foul play.”

Kuldip Oberoi said, “I personally visited the site last night and this morning and strict instructions have been issued to the SDO, XEN and all officials that carelessness should not be shown in the construction of the road. The sides of the road shall also be covered with interlocking tiles. The road is also being made properly. I have been myself overseeing the work and came back from the spot at 1 am last night,” he said.

“I am all for sampling and minute checking of the road. If any problem is found in the construction or material, then I would myself recommend the black listing of the contractor. We shall also make sure the specifics of the work are put up on a board,” he added.