Smart road planned, directors unaware

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 26

Directors of the Ludhiana Smart City Project have expressed shock over the way it is moving, without their consultation. The proposal of making a smart road from Pakhowal Chowk to Dugri Chowk under the project has come as a shock to the directors, who say they know nothing about it.

One of the directors, Sanjay Goel, said he came to know about the particular “smart road” through a section of mediapersons.

“The Pakhowal Road, Dugri area, Ghumar Mandi or Sarabha Nagar areas are already smart and there is no need to spent money to make these smarter. We need to do something for the old city where roads are in a shambles, traffic congestion is at its peak and encroachments are galore. I wonder why officials are trying hard to make already beautiful areas more eye-catching. They should focus on pan city solutions or on the areas in the old city. Instead of wasting funds like this, money should be utilised in a proper manner,” said Goel.

A few board of directors have been complaining since the inception of the project that they are never taken into confidence by the authorities concerned. Another director said: “We are mere rubber stamps. The bureaucrats decide on works to be undertaken. We are never invited to attend meetings on the project. We are slowly losing interest. The authorities must take opinion of the directors and technical persons. After all, huge funds are to be spent and it should be made sure that residents get respite in every way, which is the ultimate goal of the project,” said the director.