Pitiable condition of roads makes commuters suffer in Ludhiana

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 5

Badly broken city roads have become a nightmare for commuters but the civic body has failed to take any action so far to provide a sigh of relief to them.

Road works (bitumen based) that were supposed to be started after the rainy season are also likely to get affected amid a row between contractors associated with the Ludhiana Hotmix Plant Welfare Association and MC officials.

At present, potholes on Elevated Road, Jagraon Bridge, Hambran Road, Gill Road, Buddha Nullah stretch, Ishmeet Singh Road, Noorwala Road, Bahadurke Road, Tibba Road, Model Town roads, Dugri area roads, Focal Point roads and other stretches are crying for attention.

AAP leader Ahbaab Singh Grewal said city roads were in a pitiable condition, giving an invitation to mishaps. “Even the roads in good condition are often dug up. There is no proper planning for recarpeting or reconstruction of the roads in the city,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the MC House Harbhajan Singh Dang said various roads in the city had badly broken but the civic body had not even conducted patchwork in the past three years.

Dang said: “When we raised the matter that the patchwork was not being conducted, the authorities said the roads will be recarpeted soon. But, a group of contractors have announced to boycott MC works. The civic body should resolve the issue with contractors so that the road works be carried out timely in the city.”

While levelling allegations of corruption against MC officials, the contractors had announced to boycott the MC road works.

Meanwhile, elected representatives are waiting for beginning of road works in their respective wards as the Assembly elections are likely to be held in early 2022.

Notably, the bitumen-based road works were not conducted by the MC in winters.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said: “We have already started the patchwork from the Dugri

area recently. However, it was later stalled after rainfall. It will be resumed once the weather conditions are improved.”

Sandhu said: “No road works would get affected or delayed if the contractors refused to do the works. We will float

fresh tenders on a short-term basis and ensure timely completion of the works in the city.”

In a meeting held recently, MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal has given directions to Superintending Engineer Parveen Singla to make the hot-mix plant operational and ensure patchwork on roads, wherever it is required. He asked the officials concerned to get the patchworks done on the road connecting Dholewal Chowk with Sherpur Chowk too.

Row between contractors, officials adds to woes

Road works (bitumen based) that were supposed to be started after the rainy season are also likely to get affected amid a row between contractors associated with the Ludhiana Hotmix Plant Welfare Association and civic body officials.

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