Dugri residents pick holes in road construction

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7

Work for construction of road from Passi Chowk to Jain Mandir in the Dugri area here, being undertaken on behalf of the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), has come under the scanner with the residents alleging poor workmanship by the contractor and also charging supervising officials with connivance in the wrongdoing.

The Samaj Sudhar Sewa Society, a representative body of the area residents, has lodged several complaints with the GLADA officials, saying that the contractor was laying bitumen on the dirt track without compaction or preparing basic surface of stone metal. Road construction work was also being carried out in a hasty and careless manner, apparently to enable the ruling party take credit for the project in the coming Lok Sabha elections, said Sanjay Tiwari, vice-president of the sabha.

The residents wondered if the premix was being laid on a dirt track in gross violation of the stipulated specifications, how long it would last. They demanded strict vigil be maintained on construction work and it was made sure that work was executed strictly as per the specifications and conditions laid down in the work order.

When contacted, the GLADA Divisional Engineer (Civil), Jasjot Singh, said some complaints were received about poor workmanship and deficiencies on the part of the contractor last week, and at that time the work was stopped. “The field staff has been directed to inspect ongoing work and take immediate action if there is any lapse on the part of the contractor,” he added, maintaining that road work would be executed strictly as per the specifications and terms and conditions of the work order.