The ₹400-crore Surface Water Project in Jalandhar is still under construction, despite missing its original completion deadline. The project was scheduled to be completed in September, but according to the current project status, around 92% of the work has been completed, and a new target of December has been set.
The project is being executed by the Sewerage Board and it is aimed at developing the infrastructure required for supplying surface water to the city.
The project involves extensive work on underground pipelines and related infrastructure, and since the work requires roads to be dug up at several locations, it has also led to concerns among residents and criticism over road conditions and traffic disruption.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, while discussing the progress of the project, said officials also face political pressure over the digging of roads for such works and said questions are raised about why roads are being dug up and why the work is being carried out in different areas.
The Commissioner said such road excavation is part of the execution of the project and is required for laying the necessary infrastructure and the work therefore involves disruption on roads while the pipelines and other components are being installed.
Rishi also highlighted the impact of rainfall on the Surface Water Project and other ongoing civic works and according to him, rain affects the execution of projects and can result in work being stalled for around four months.
This, in turn, slows down the overall progress of the projects.
The Surface Water Project was originally expected to be completed a lot sooner, however, the deadline was missed and the project remained under execution and with 92% of the work now completed, the authorities have set December as the new target for completion.
The project is one of the largest works undertaken under Jalandhar’s Smart City-related development programme, with an estimated cost of ₹400 crore and its progress is being monitored through review meetings, while officials have been directed to expedite the remaining work.
