Preneet meets Gadkari, seeks nod to upgrade of key roads
Former Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, along with Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur, today met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to press for the urgent approval for upgrade of key roads in the region.
Preneet emphasised the strategic and economic importance of both roads, stating, “The Patiala-Pehowa-Kurukshetra route serves as a key economic and pilgrimage corridor connecting Punjab to Haryana and beyond. Upgrading it to a national highway will significantly ease vehicular movement and boost local trade.”
Highlighting the recent tragic road accident near Nassupur village on the Patiala-Samana road, in which seven schoolchildren and the driver of school van lost their lives, Preneet Kaur said the incident had shaken the conscience of the entire region. She stated that such incidents must act as a wake-up call for the authorities to prioritise road safety and infrastructure.
Preneet also apprised the Union Minister that she had discussed the matter with official of the Punjab Government. The forest land required for the road-widening had been identified and the process for clearance initiated. Moreover, a dedicated budget has been proposed for the relocation of electric poles along the Patiala-Patran route to enable timely expansion, she said.
Jai Inder Kaur stressed that the safety of commuters, especially schoolchildren, couldn’t be compromised any further and that immediate infrastructural intervention was the need of the hour. She added that with traffic increasing manifold in the region, these roads must be widened to prevent further tragedies.
