Farmers’ stir over Potli village road prompts DC’s intervention

To resolve the ongoing dispute over the Potli village road, Deputy Commissioner Parth Gupta has directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Radaur SDM to submit a detailed report at the earliest.

Farmers under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait group) have been staging a dharna on the Ambala–Shamli highway near Potli village since September 13, demanding that an old village road be restored by constructing an underpass beneath the under-construction national highway.

The farmers have also announced their intention to reopen the closed road on November 16 by digging across the highway if their demand is not met.

DC Parth Gupta, along with NHAI officers and Radaur SDM Narender Kumar, visited Potli village and interacted with the protesting farmers and villagers to understand their concerns.

“I visited Potli village and directed the Radaur SDM and NHAI officers to submit a report on the road issue as soon as possible,” said the Deputy Commissioner.

He assured the villagers that a suitable decision would be taken through proper coordination among departments. Appealing for cooperation, he urged the farmers to support ongoing infrastructure projects, describing road connectivity as vital for regional progress.

“Roads speed up transportation and open new employment opportunities for the surrounding area,” Gupta said.

BKU district president Subhash Gurjar said the road in question has existed in Potli village’s revenue records since 1952 and was three yards wide (around 16 feet).

“The highway authorities have completely closed the road without providing an underpass or crossing. The route earlier connected agricultural fields across a vast area, but now farmers have lost access due to the closure,” he added.

BKU state president Ratan Mann, DPRO Dr Manoj Kumar, NHAI Deputy Manager (Technical) Vishal Kesarwani, and other officials were present during the visit.