Cracks appear on newly constructed stretch in Aggar Nagar Enclave

Harshraj Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 25

A road in Aggar Nagar Enclave, which was constructed four days before the Municipal Corporation (MC) elections last month, developed multiple cracks, which has raised many eyebrows.

Even after construction of road gullies, the rainwater gets accumulated at various points due to ‘improper’ levelling of this stretch.

According to residents of the Aggar Nagar Enclave on Barewal Road the previous metalled road had got damaged. So, MC officials decided to construct ready-mix concrete (RMC) road, they added. “However, we have only got disappointment after seeing cracks on the newly-laid road,” they said.

Residents claimed that the previous road was dismantled around one and half month before the MC elections, which were held on February 24. However, cracks on the road were filled with concrete mixture just four days before the MC poll.

Samples of the newly constructed road should be sent for testing, said residents. “The government should instruct the MC authorities to reconstruct the road in right manner,” they added.

Aggar Nagar Enclave resident Rakesh Kumar said, “Cracks are visible on the newly constructed road in our area. Rainwater accumulates outside houses as the level of this road is not proper. This water is an open invitation to vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. The MC must reconstruct the road as per norms and ensure its levelling.”

A group of residents said the mixture was laid on the entire road within a day. However, expansion joints on the road were made with the help of a cutter two weeks after the construction work was completed, they added. However, cracks had started appearing before joints were made, they claimed.

When they complained to an official of the MC, he sent the staff concerned to lay patches on cracks but to no avail, they said.

“We appeal to the government and the MC authorities to reconstruct the road as per specifications and avoid wastage of the public money. We are not satisfied with the previous work done for the construction of the road,” said another resident RK Jindal.

When contacted, the MC Superintending Engineer, Dharam Singh said, “I will look into the matter and take necessary action in this regard.”