Phagwara residents plan to repair link road through donations

In a striking reflection of growing public frustration, residents of Phagwara have decided to take road repair into their own hands. The link road beneath the Sugar Mill bridge — an important passage used daily by thousands — has been lying in a severely damaged condition for several years.

Numerous complaints to government representatives and municipal officers have failed to yield any action, pushing locals to initiate a donation drive to rebuild the road themselves.

The plan, according to residents, involves installing a donation box at the site where passers-by and commuters will be requested to contribute funds. People from Satnampura, Bhagatpura, Adarsh Nagar, Mansa Devi, Hariyabad, Nakodar Road and several adjoining localities depend on this link road for daily travel.

The route has become even more critical since a stretch of the national highway connecting these areas was closed for administrative reasons. Despite shutting down the main road, the authorities never repaired or upgraded the alternative route, leaving commuters to struggle with potholes, damaged patches and frequent accidents.

Locals insist that the condition is not due to lack of complaints. Residents claim to have raised the issue repeatedly with municipal officials and elected leaders, but the response has been limited to assurances and promises. Many citizens have been seen spreading soil and debris themselves just to make the road temporarily motorable.

What has fuelled public anger further is the perception that Phagwara, despite being politically significant and home to several influential figures, has been ignored on basic civic needs. Residents say that leaders continue to inaugurate projects and cut ribbons, while on-ground realities remain unchanged.

Several locals have reportedly suggested that when the 2027 elections approach, any leader seeking votes from the area will be met with boycott unless the condition of roads is repaired.

Phagwara Mayor Rampal Uppal, reacting to the controversy, stated that the link road does not fall under the corporation’s jurisdiction and is to be repaired only by the PWD. Former councillor Sarabjit Kaur confirmed that complaints have been filed multiple times, and if residents move forward with a public donation initiative, she and her ward residents will support the campaign.

Former councillor Paramjit Kamboj added that thousands of commuters face daily risk due to the broken road and the repair work must be taken up without further delay.

AAP councillor Jasdev Prince stated that he has already discussed the matter with constituency in-charge Harji Mann and Uppal and assured that the reconstruction of the link road will begin soon

The issue is not limited to this locality alone. In the posh Hargobind Nagar locality, the road leading to the SDM office and the other to famous Chaupati has also remained in poor condition for several months. Despite repeated assurances from the municipal authorities, residents say no repair work has begun.

But on the ground, public patience has thinned. As donation boxes prepare to replace official repair machinery, Phagwara faces a hard question: Will citizens have to build their own roads while government departments watch from a distance?

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The link road does not fall under the corporation’s jurisdiction and is to be repaired only by the PWD.

Rampal Uppal, Phagwara Mayor