Residents flag poor quality of road restoration work in Ludhiana

Months after residents endured traffic congestion, dust and damaged roads due to the laying of pipelines under the 24x7 canal-based water supply project, fresh concerns have emerged over the quality of road restoration work being carried out across the city.

While the Municipal Corporation has directed project agencies to restore roads to their original condition after the completion of the pipeline work, residents and commuters allege that several stretches have not been repaired properly. The stretch from Fountain Chowk to the Mayor’s House is among those roads where restoration work is currently underway.

According to civic officials, the project tender includes a provision requiring agencies to restore roads in the same condition as they existed before excavation. However, road users claim that the repaired stretches were uneven and did not match the original road level.

College Road, one of the busiest commercial corridors in the city, has become a major point of concern. Commuters said the restored stretch was uneven at several locations, making driving uncomfortable and increasing risk of accidents. They also complained that loose material and poor-quality repair work generate large amounts of dust, particularly during peak traffic hours.

Rajesh Kumar, a commuter who uses College Road daily, said residents had faced inconvenience for several months in the hope of improved water infrastructure. “Roads remained dug up for a long time and traffic movement was badly affected. Now, after restoration of the road, the surface is still uneven and dust rises whenever vehicles pass,” he said.

Shopkeepers along the stretch said the problem was affecting business. Sanjeev Mehra, who runs a shop on College Road, said dust from the damaged road settles on goods and creates inconvenience for customers.

“We supported the project as it is important for the city’s future but restoration work should prioritise quality. The road should be restored to its original condition,” he said.

Another resident, Harpreet Singh, said the civic body should closely monitor the restoration work and ensure contractors follow specifications mentioned in the tender.

Despite repeated attempts, MC Superintending Engineer Parul Goyal was not available for comments.

Residents have urged the corporation to conduct quality checks of all restored stretches and rectify defects before the monsoon season. They said the project would benefit the city in the long run but poor restoration work could undermine public confidence and create fresh issues for road users.