Against 'rules', contractors recarpeting Ludhiana roads in winter

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 28

The Municipal Corporation has closed operations at its hot-mix plant, where material is prepared for repairing potholed roads, due to the ongoing winter season. However, the civic body has allowed the private contractors to carry on the bitumen-based road recarpeting works just before the Assembly elections.

The civic body commonly avoided recarpeting and repair works of potholed roads during winter season in the past some years as a number of roads that were carpeted during winter had got damaged within a short period. The questions are being raised as the bitumen-based road works are going on in full swing these days in winter.

Harbhajan Singh Dang, councillor-cum-president of the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal said, “The bitumen-based road works are not recommended during winter because there are chances that roads carpeted during low temperature can get damaged within a short period. The roads were generally not recarpeted after December 15 in the past. But, various roads are being recarpeted during the extremely cold weather conditions these days.”

Sanjay Verma of the Council of Engineers said, “As per the seasonal limitations set by the PWD and MORTH specifications, the bituminous works are not advised in winter season, especially when temperature goes down below 10°C. There is the possibility of surface getting damaged earlier than its expected life. Road re-laying should be avoided in this season.”

An employee of the MC said the Hot-mix plant was closed about 10 days ago due to winter season and plant operations are likely to be resumed after end of this season.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said only those contractors, who have given a guarantee that the recarpeted roads will not get damaged before expected life, are carrying out the road works these days and they are responsible for the ongoing road works.

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