2 bidders, Anandpur Sahib road repair work shortly

Tribune News Service

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Ropar, November 22

After several years of delay and protests by locals, the Anandpur Sahib-Garhshankar road repair work is likely to be started next month as two companies have registered their bid for contract of Rs 20.5 crore.

As tippers loaded with sand and gravel from crusher zones of Agampur, Saidpur, Algran and Khera Kalmot pass through this road every day, it has been badly damaged. Not only the road, the concrete surface of two bridges near Agampur crusher zone has also worn out.

More than six persons had lost their lives in mishaps on this road recently. The locals had staged protests demanding immediate repair of the road. Though the state government as well as the Centre had announced to start its repair, nothing has been done till now.

The Centre had declared 16.77-km road from Anandpur Sahib to Global College near Kahanpur Khui a part of the Banga-Naina Devi National Highway in January 2016. Later, the NHAI refused to take possession of the road on the pretext of delay in submission of a detailed project report by the state.

On January 24, CM Capt Amarinder Singh had announced Rs 9 crore towards the repair of the road. A month later, the grant was cancelled after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone to strengthen and widen the road. However, the Centre has not notified the road as a national highway till date.

After media reports of fatal accidents, PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla sanctioned Rs 25 crore for its construction and tenders were floated on June 20, only to be cancelled. Ropar PWD XEN said the process of accepting the tender would be completed within the next few weeks following which it would take nine months for the repair of the road.