Ludhiana: Like every year, the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana has proposed a hefty budget for the construction and maintenance of roads and streets, but despite numerous claims, the pathetic condition of roads suggests money is going down the drain in the absence of a permanent solution. Even this year, MC has earmarked ₹50 crore for city road development, while ₹100 crore is proposed for street construction and maintenance.This follows an annual pattern where MC allocates substantial funds. Additionally, major roads are covered under central government-funded schemes. In 2025-26, the MC claimed it would spend ₹25 crore on roads and ₹54 crore on streets. However, in 2024-25, the MC spent ₹16.54 crore on roads and ₹82 crore on street work.The residents meanwhile blamed the poor quality of material being used at the time of road construction. Even in the months of Nov and Dec, MC got roads reconstructed in many areas, but roads washed away in no time. “The roads have remained in poor condition all the time and most of the time only patchwork is done. Even patchwork remains for a few days,” complains Anup Kumar, a chartered accountant. He said there is no control over the quality of material, and he has never seen any civic officer collecting samples of material for checking, which is a question mark on the sincerity of officials as well.Echoing the same views, an ex-councillor and resident of Jassian Road, Parminder Mehta, said it is good that officials keep lots of funds for the roads, but they should keep a check on the quality of material as well. He said there should be sampling of the material at the time of road construction, and in case any contractor is using low-class material, then he should not be given work next time.The superintending engineer of MC, Sham Lal Gupta, however, said, “Quality of material being used at the time of construction of roads no doubt is a major factor, but waterlogging and digging of roads time and again are also a factor behind the poor condition of roads.” He said they keep funds for the construction of roads, but those funds are not enough, and they require more money for at least constructing concrete roads in areas where there is more load of traffic. He said they give special attention to the patchwork, as most of the time with regular patchwork also they can save roads from getting damaged further.Notably, the condition of roads in Haibowal, Civil Lines, Chander Nagar, Hambran Road, PAU Road, a is pathetic, and after the winter season the residents are expecting that construction of new roads will start in the month of March. however, the ongoing canal-based water supply project involving city-wide digging presents a further challenge for road construction.MSID:: 129699663 413 |
