Quality of newly built road in Rajgarh under scanner

Concerns over the quality of a newly constructed road under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Sirmaur district have prompted the state government to order an inquiry. The Dhamaala-Dhanech-Chukhadiya road in Rajgarh subdivision, built at a cost of several crores, has come under criticism from local residents who allege that the construction does not meet prescribed standards.

A delegation from Pajhota-Rasumandar region, led by Zila Parishad member Vinay Bagnal, Manish Bagnal and social activist Nihal Rapta, raised the issue before Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh during his visit to Nahan on Independence Day. The delegation apprised the minister that the road surface is already peeling off at several stretches and the blacktopping work is far from satisfactory.

The minister directed the Engineer-in-Chief (Projects) to initiate immediate action and conduct a detailed quality inspection. Following his orders, the Public Works Department has constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter. The panel, headed by Umesh Sharma, Superintending Engineer (Quality Control & Design), includes Executive Engineer Lalit Kumar Grover as member and Assistant Engineer Suresh Gupta as member secretary.

As per the office order issued on Monday, the committee has been instructed to carry out a comprehensive quality audit of the road and submit its detailed report within a week, which will then be forwarded to the minister. The Superintending Engineer, 12th Circle Nahan, has been directed to provide all necessary documents and testing equipment to the committee, while the Executive Engineer of Rajgarh division has been asked to extend full cooperation.

Residents said an impartial probe would expose the lapses in construction. They expressed hope that the government would take strict action against those responsible for compromising quality in such a crucial public project.