Road to Capt’s house full of potholes : The Tribune India

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The damaged road outside Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s residence in Patiala. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 20

Travelling on a road leading to the houses of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleague Brahm Mohindra makes for one bumpy ride, thanks to potholed roads.

Besides the CM and Brahm Mohindra, two more ministers hail from the city.

The road from Theekriwala Chowk to New Moti Bagh Palace was repaired a few times during the SAD-BJP tenure in the past 10 years, but was never relaid.

The stretch was last spruced up during the Capt Amarinder’s government when the city hosted the India-Pakistan Games in December 2004. “Funds meant for the district were always diverted to Bathinda. The past 10 years saw no development. My government will ensure that the city is brought back on the path of development,” Capt Amarinder had said while canvassing in Patiala in January.

On the evening of March 13, when Capt Amarinder reached his house after winning the elections, a battery of ministers, workers, bureaucrats and heads of departments came from across the state to congratulate him. They were, however, surprised to see the state of the road.

“Paucity of funds with the Local Bodies Department was said to be the reason for repairing or relaying only a few roads in Patiala during the past SAD-BJP rule,” claimed Improvement Trust former chairman KK Sharma, a confidant of the royal family.

“It is hoped things will change when Capt Amarinder visits for the first time as the Chief Minister. His first visit is pending and we hope that the work will start soon,” he said, adding that development of the city is government’s priority.

The condition of roads across the district is bad, with the Municipal Corporation (MC) and the Public Works Department claiming shortage of funds.

“Substandard work is the reason for the poor state of the roads,” a Congress worker said.

“The MC will soon start the patchwork on all roads in the city. There are certain issues pertaining to relaying of roads. The civic body will take up the matter soon,” said MC Commissioner Gurpal Chahal.