Shoddy construction of roads concerns residents

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 27

Shoddy construction of roads under the widening of roads and Bus Rapid Transit system (BRTS) project has left local residents dissatisfied, especially if the condition of newly constructed Court Road is anything to go by.

At a number of places, the roads are uneven and even cracks have developed within a couple of months of their construction. People pointed out that with the monsoons round the corner, the condition of roads would only deteriorate.

A visit to Court Road revealed that roads had caved in from various places, especially near the raised platforms of sewerage points, leaving these uneven and dangerous for commuters. The residents had a number of times raised fingers on the quality of various projects underway in the city.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has directed the authorities responsible for the execution of the projects to finish the work within the stipulated period.

“It seems that in the race to finish the projects on time, the quality of the material being used is being compromised,” said Rakesh Gupta, a local resident. He said the slow pace of work had made life hell in the past and now when the government had pulled up and asked the authorities to complete the project within the deadlines given to them, the agencies and contractors involved in the work were giving scant regard to the quality of the material.

“It would be no surprise if the roads cave in in various parts of the city. There is leakage of water from many points leading to caving in of roads while authorities turn a blind eye to the problem,” said another resident, Manjit Uppal. With the monsoon round the corner, when the water gets stagnant on the road, these roads become a virtual hell for the commuters, he added.

An official of the Amritsar Improvement Trust said the final layer of the road was yet to be laid. He said whatever the concerns the people have, these would be addressed soon.