Road repairs near completion in several wards of Ahmedgarh as civic body races against time

Residents of some wards heaved a sigh of relief after their long-pending demand for the construction of roads in their areas was met. However, the council still has a daunting path ahead as it has to run against time to achieve the target of making hundred per cent of the town’s roads motorable, most of which remain in a deplorable state.

Advertisement

As almost all commuters have to ply on potholed roads, they have demanded that the construction or repairs works be completed before the onset of monsoon to avoid any inconvenience and avert mishaps.

The authorities concerned claimed that the process for the construction and repair of all the roads falling under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Council had either been completed or estimates had been sent to the higher authorities for vetting.

Hemant Dhawan, Sectional Officer, Municipal Council, said construction work on almost all, except a few (five-six), roads had already been completed.

“While the repair work on most roads has been going on, construction work has been completed for the roads that needed repairs urgently. There are about half a dozen roads, estimates of which have been sent to the higher authorities concerned for vetting,” said Dhawan.

In the previous monsoon, a majority of the local roads and those connecting the town to surrounding ones had been rendered non-motorable due to gaping potholes. Mud combined with the rain further compound the problem, making the surface slippery.

Morning walkers, especially those who rise very early, were the worst sufferers as potholes were hard to spot in the darkness.

Residents alleged that the condition of almost all the town’s approach roads and those connecting Bajrang Akhara, Municipal Park, Jandali Bridge, cremation ground, graveyards, Guga Mari Chhapar and Hargobind Pura was pitiable and frequently overflowing sewage would create puddles on these.

Showing satisfaction over the construction of Dehliz Road, Cremation Ground Road, Bajrang Akhara Road and Thana Road, residents have demanded that work on the rest be completed before the onset of rains.

Justifying demands raised by residents, President, Municipal Council, Vikas Krishan Sharma, said development works had been disrupted due to the return of grants after the formation of the new government. But the projects have now been resumed after receiving fresh grants after the intervention of MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra, he added.

“Recently we have initiated the construction and repair work of roads after receiving a grant worth Rs 6 crore. Almost three fourth of the projects have been completed under the supervision of the technical staff of the council,” said Sharma, assuring that work on the remaining roads would soon be resumed after receiving approval from the higher authorities concerned.