The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is working with full commitment to make the state’s infrastructure world-class. Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO today shared the progress of road development works, stating that construction and repair work of 45,000 kilometres of roads is being carried out at a war footing to strengthen the state’s road network. The government’s primary objective is to connect every village in Punjab with a better road network to boost the rural economy.
Emphasizing the quality and durability of roads, the Cabinet Minister said that the government has implemented strict rules. He clarified that after the construction of a road, if any damage occurs within the next 5 years, the entire responsibility for its repair will lie with the concerned contractor.
He informed that to ensure transparency and high quality in construction works, a ‘Chief Minister Flying Squad’ has been constituted, which is directly monitoring the projects. Along with this, a special ‘Quality Control Cell’ is also active, and departmental officials are conducting surprise inspections from time to time.
ETO stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself is monitoring the development works. At several places, he has personally conducted on-ground inspections of construction projects. The government’s clear message is that the use of any substandard or inferior material in road construction will not be tolerated. A policy of ‘zero tolerance’ towards corruption and negligence is being adopted.
Highlighting technological innovation, the Cabinet Minister said that for the first time in Punjab, modern technology like ‘Full Depth Reclamation’ (FDR) is being used. Under this technology, 540 kilometres of link roads are currently being constructed.
The special feature of FDR technology is that the road level is maintained according to the level of houses, which prevents waterlogging issues. Soon, the scope of this technology will be expanded to cover more roads in the state.
The Minister also shared that due to recent unseasonal rains, there has been some delay in construction work, but the department is now working at double speed. He expressed confidence that the target of 45,000 kilometres of roads will be achieved by June, providing the people of Punjab with smooth and safe travel facilities.