Sangrur road under lens for ‘poor’ quality repaired

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 10

A day after The Tribune highlighted alleged poor quality material used to construct a road in Sangrur city, the Public Works Department (PWD) repaired a portion of the under-construction road last night after blocking traffic, raising serious doubts about material being used.

On Friday evening, a portion (from the first gate to second gate of the civil hospital) to Dhuri road, which had caved in some time ago, was closed for traffic. The repair work continued from 7.45 pm to around 10.15 pm. Local residents and patients complained of inconvenience.

“The PWD Department sent us to repair the patch. We can’t share further details,” said a driver of a truck that had brought bitumen and other construction material.

After completing the construction of the road, interlocking tiles are being laid to construct pavements on both sides of the road. Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said: “When the PWD Department could not construct a good quality road measuring just 700 metres at a cost of Rs3.19 crore, what would be the quality of material being used in the construction of other roads. The CM must order a high-level inquiry and quality check of under-construction roads. Otherwise, we would be compelled to start agitation across state.”

Cheema had on Thursday written a letter to the Director General of Punjab Vigilance Bureau and sought high-level inquiry and strict action against officers concerned.

Despite repeated attempts, PWD sub-divisional officer Pawan Garg could not be contacted. AAP’s Inderpal Singh, who inspected the material being used for repair work last night, said it was surprising that labourers repaired only a small portion but the road needed repair at many other patches also.