E-Paper
Ludhiana: Civic works under scanner as cracks appear on ATI Road
Cracks on an under-construction road in Ludhiana raise concerns over quality, prompting an inspection and potential rebuilding by officials.
Cracks on an under-construction cemented road on ATI Road have raised fresh concerns over the quality of road works in Ludhiana.
The municipal corporation has floated tenders worth crores for improving road infrastructure, with several cemented roads currently under construction across the city. However, residents have alleged the use of substandard material, raising questions over the quality of execution and supervision by officials and contractors.
The latest case involves a cemented road being constructed on ATI Road at a cost of around ₹1 crore. Cracks have appeared even though only half the stretch has been completed. Tyre marks and footprints visible on the surface have further pointed to poor execution and inadequate curing.
Residents also claimed that the thickness of the material being laid is below the prescribed standard by around one to one-and-a-half inches. They fear the road will not last long, especially during the monsoon.
Local residents Kamlesh Rani and Manjit Singh said they had expected improvement after the project was taken up. “The road has started breaking even before completion. If this is the condition now, it will not survive the rainy season,” they said, adding that similar cracks have appeared on a nearby stretch constructed recently.
Deputy mayor Prince Johar inspected the site and found variations in thickness at different points. He ordered the work to be stopped and directed that samples be collected for testing.
“This is public money and cannot be wasted. If any discrepancy is found, the road will be dismantled and rebuilt,” he said.
SDO Sandeep Chaudhary, however, maintained that the road was being constructed as per prescribed norms with a thickness of 10 inches. He said minor cracks near a manhole had been rectified and portions showing tyre and foot marks were being repaired, adding that the quality of work would be ensured.
