3 months on, Ludhiana MC yet to start operations at hotmix plant

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 16

Even though contractors have been allowed to carry out road carpeting work in different areas, the Municipal Corporation (MC) is yet to resume operations at its hotmix plant wherein material is prepared for carrying out patchwork to repair the potholes. The plant was closed more than three months ago due to winter season.

Commuters in the city are forced to face inconvenience as potholes on a number of roads in various wards of the city are yet to be repaired. Residents have been demanding that the MC should ensure the repair of the roads at the earliest.

New works related to road carpeting/construction are generally allotted to private contractors, while the patch work on potholed roads is done by the MC itself. Private contractors have already started road carpeting work in some parts of the city.

Was hurt on potholed road: Vyopar Mandal gen secy

Potholes are commonly seen in a number of areas of the city. Sunil Mehra, general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Vyopar Mandal, said, “I got injury on my foot as it turned when I was walking on a potholed stretch. Despite our repeated demands, the potholes are not being repaired by the civic body. We are going to stage protests if such roads are not repaired at the earliest.”

Gurpal Singh Grewal, a resident of Model Town, said, “A number of potholes have not been repaired in Model Town and other areas. The patch work should be done on time and properly so that the commuters don’t face any inconvenience. When the contractors have been allowed to start road carpeting works, why the civic body is delaying patch work to repair potholes?”

Councillor from ward number 2, Gurmail Singh Jajji, said “The potholes have appeared on several roads/internal streets in the ward due to which commuters are suffering. The hotmix plant should be made operational at the earliest so that the patch work was carried out soon.”