MLA on inauguration spree; road repair work yet to complete after around 50 days of inauguration by MLA Patiala
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ November 21,2024
For the last more than 2 years, the residents of Patiala are harried a lot over the non construction of roads dug up by a private contractor to lay pipes for 24X7 canal water supply scheme. Now, they are even harried a lot over the not starting the repair work of roads despite the same is inaugurated by the local MLA. Last but not the least the residents are worried because the official of the government department who is executing the repair work has said “the repair or a road making is a two month process”, which means it will take more time to commute on an unobstructed road.
With the municipal corporation elections are around the corner, the royal city’s civic body seems to have pulled up their socks for the development of the city. The local MLA seems to be on inauguration spree as he is regularly inaugurating road repair, developments works in his constituency.
But, on ground the situation seems to be different. The road repair work where pipes for canal water project were laid in Patiala is yet to start in some areas of the MC Patiala jurisdiction.
On October 3, 2024, MLA, Patiala (Urban) had inaugurated the Rs 43 lakhs worth repair work of around 500 mtr long and around 2-3 feet wide road from 21 number railway phatak to Lehal crossing (traffic lights) that was dug up for canal water supply with much fanfare. But even after the passing of around 50 days road repairing work is going on slow speed on this small stretch. When contacted the executive engineer of PWD, Piyush Aggarwal who is the executing officer of the repair work, had said” “It takes around 2 months to make a good road. We are to make this road a quality road so that the patch work, broken piece of road to match properly with the main, unbroken road. We are following our rule book.”
Rajesh Kumar, a resident of the Lehal colony said “if a stretch of around 500 mtr long and 2-3 feet wide repairing is taking 2 months, Rs 43 lakhs, what we can expect from them for a wider, bigger road. Three departments are doing the repair work of roads dug up for laying canal water pipes. All three agencies have different parameters of road reparing. One is working immediately and one is taking two months for same kind of work.”
“The roads made in the city are not upto the mark. Cracks can be seen on newly made roads. The MC seems to be in hurry to show the development in the city” said Harsehaj another resident of the city.
When contacted the MLA (Urban), Ajitpal Singh Kohli and questioned him whether he is checking the progress of the work he is inaugurating, he said” not only the road repair but the other development works are in full swing in Patiala. We are monitoring, reviewing the work on daily basis. At present MC, PWD, L&T, Improvement Trust are not only repairing the roads but wherever a new road is required, we are making it. “He further added the “PWD , L&T and MC are making roads as per their specifications. Like Sheranwala gate area is not used by heavy vehicles so the MC made it by following its rule book.. The stretch from Thikriwala chowk to YPS chowk is used by four wheelers, army vehicles so L&T made it as per their specification. Now, PWD is also on the job. They are making their share of roads as per the terms, procedure laid in their rule books. We will complete the road repairing work before the closing of bitumen plants in mid December”
MLA on inauguration spree; road repair work yet to complete after around 50 days of inauguration by MLA Patiala. On October 1,2024 MLA Patiala Ajitpal Singh Kohli chaired a meeting of MC Patiala officials at MC office. While reviewing the road repair and canal water project work in Patiala he had instructed officials to immediately begin road repair work in areas where pipe-laying has been completed. He emphasized that any delay in road repair work will not be tolerated. Patiala Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr. Rajat Oberoi, Joint Commissioner Babandeep Singh Walia and Deepjot Kaur were also present.
In that meeting Kohli had said that “L&T will begin repairing the Sherawala Gate road next week (from October 1,2024), while the PWD will start work on roads from the Old Bus Stand to PRTC Workshop, Thikriwala Chowk to New Lal Bagh, and from 21 No. Phatak to Lehal Chowk. Additionally, the Municipal Corporation has been directed to start repairing the road from Ablowal to Thapar within a week. Kohli assured that internal city roads will also be repaired soon. He had further mentioned that 90 percent. of the work on the Water Treatment Plant is complete, and the pipe-laying process is progressing rapidly.
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