Hot mix plant to shut in 20 days, several key roads await repair

Barely 20 days are left before the city’s lone hot mix plant shuts for the winter season, the pothole repair work remains far from complete.

Several key roads, including those near Lakkar Bridge, Rose Garden, Haibowal Chowk, Railway Station Road, and Jalandhar Bypass, continue to be riddled with craters, posing risk to commuters.

The hot mix plant is used to produce asphalt concrete by heating and mixing sand and stone with bitumen.

Municipal Corporation officials stated that the plant was scheduled to shut by November 15, but the operation might have to be halted early if the daytime temperatures dipped below 15°C. “Patchwork is underway, and if the weather permits, we may continue for a few days beyond the deadline,” said an MC official.

However, the pace of repair work has drawn criticism from residents and watchdog bodies alike.

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken cognisance of the deteriorating road conditions and sought a detailed report from the MC Commissioner before the next hearing on December 19. The action follows a complaint filed by a city resident, who termed the roads “a threat to public safety”.

“Driving on these damaged and uneven roads feels like risking our lives every day,” said a commuter near Haibowal Chowk. Harjit Singh, a city resident, added, “Ludhiana is a smart city only in name. The reality is totally different. Even posh areas like Club Road offer a bumpy ride.”

Many residents blamed monsoon for the damage caused to roads, but questioned why no substantial repair work had followed.

Two patchwork machines worth Rs 3.86 cr lie idle

The Municipal Corporation had spent Rs 3.86 crore on two machines to carry out patchwork. These machines are equipped with infra-red recycling technology, aimed at enabling winter repairs under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). However, these machines, which were introduced with much fanfare, have reportedly not been used for months.

MC officials admitted that the time-consuming nature of the process led to their under-utilisation. “Manual patchwork is inefficient and doesn’t last long. These machines were meant to extend the life of repairs, but their slow operation became a hurdle,” said an MC official. As a result, the machines now lie idle, turning into ‘white elephants’ while the city’s roads continue to crumble.