BKU (Doaba) submits memorandum to SDM for widening rural roads

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba) submitted a memorandum to Phagwara Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jashanjit Singh on Tuesday, urging authorities to widen rural link roads by filling their edges with soil. The delegation was led by the union’s general secretary, Satnam Singh Sahni.

According to the farmers, the harvesting of wheat has concluded and paddy transplantation is scheduled to begin on June 10, making the current period ideal for infrastructure improvement. They emphasised that widening the shoulders of rural roads could help reduce the risk of road accidents, particularly at night.

“At several locations, the shoulder width is less than two feet, and in some areas, it is barely a foot wide, posing serious risk to drivers,” Sahni said. The memorandum recommends that roads should have berms at least five to six feet wide to safely accommodate increasing traffic volumes.

The union also highlighted issues with sapling plantations under the MGNREGA scheme, stating that closely planted trees along the roadside hinder the movement of large vehicles like tippers.

They suggested that saplings be planted at a minimum distance of 50 feet from the road to allow for easier vehicle passage and to avoid unnecessary confrontation among drivers.

In addition, the memorandum raised concerns about illegal encroachments, including unauthorised ramps constructed in front of homes and the accumulation of waste and animal dung on roadways, which further impede safe transit.

Responding to the concerns, SDM Jashanjit Singh assured the delegation that a meeting with the officials concerned would be convened soon to explore practical solutions.

Prominent among those present were Kulwinder Singh Kala Athouli, Gurpal Singh Pala Mauli, Harbhajan Singh Bajwa, Harvinder Singh Khunkhun Manawali, Pradeep Singh Daulatpur, Jatinder Kumar Bhanoki, Niranjan Singh Nasirabad and other local representatives.