Potholed roads in P’kula cry for attention

Panchkula roads cry for attention

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 15

The Municipal Corporation (MC) is spending crores on various initiatives, including Swachhta Abhiyan, but roads in the town are in deplorable condition.

The situation of roads has improved to some extend from last year. Earlier, stretches were teeming with potholes everywhere in Panchkula. Residents had even encircled potholes with white powder, but still lot needs to be done.

A road connecting Amarvati to Bhagwanpur in Ward No. 6 is badly damaged due to recent rainfall. Similarly, roads of Sector 14 and 16, especially market roads, are full of potholes, making it difficult for motorists to drive.

Sameer Sethi, a resident of Sector 16, said the MC should regularly send construction material used in road repair for testing to check its quality. On the basis of lab report, action should be initiated against contractor, he suggested.

Echoing similar views, Vinod Sharma, a resident of Pinjore, said, “The condition of roads in Kalka and Pinjore is bad. Even civic body officials do not attend our complaints. The situation worsens in the rainy season as it becomes difficult to drive on roads with potholes filled with rainwater.”

Panchkula Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal said he had joined in September last year and since then the quality of roads had improved.

“Now, major roads in Panchkula are give a smooth ride. We are putting our best efforts to improve the condition of roads,” he added.

VB recommends action against contractor

The vigilance probe conducted in 2016 revealed how bitumen and other binding content in most roads constructed between 2014 and 2015 was lower than permissible limits. Besides, the material used was also substandard. In the report submitted to the state government in December 2016, it was stated that 34.65 metric tonnes of bitumen was less in B roads of Sector 15. Similarly, 18 metric tonnes of bitumen was found less in roads carpeted in Sector 14/1. The Vigilance Bureau (VB) had recommended action against contractors and MC officials.

'My pothole, my pride’

Last year, local units of the two organisations — Swaraj Abhiyan and Youth4Swaraj, had launched ‘Mera gaddhha, mera gaurav’ (My pothole, my pride) campaign to draw the attention of administration officials towards the pitiable condition of roads in the city.