Punjab budget: Mohali among 4 districts picked for ₹140-cr road overhaul

Announcing the project, the finance minister said in the first phase, the government will build around 50 km of world-class roads in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Mohali over the financial year

Mohali is among the four districts in Punjab where the state government is eyeing to upgrade and construct prominent roads at a cost of ₹140 crore in the first phase of the state road development project.

Mohali AAP MLA Kulwant Singh said though the state had yet to fix the amount to be spent on the district, key roads in Mohali, including Airport Road (PR-7), the road from Balongi to Bestech Mall, and that from YPS Chowk to Golf range, will be upgraded and streamlined. (HT)

While presenting the state budget for 2025-26 on Wednesday, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema shared the government’s plan to build “world-class” roads in cities across Punjab.

Announcing the project, the finance minister said in the first phase, the government will build around 50 km of world-class roads in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Mohali over the financial year. “These will include the most prominent road stretches in these cities that are frequented by local residents and tourists alike,” Cheema said.

He added that the state government would engage top architects from Punjab and rest of India to design these roads as per international standards and subsequently hire contractors to build and maintain these roads for 10 years.

“Customised landscaping/ horticultural plans will be developed for footpaths and central verge in each road to give a world-class look and also to ensure there is no open patch left that leads to road dust and air pollution. We will ensure alignment of electricity lines, street lights, water supply lines, bus stands and trees that block the flow of people and vehicles,” Cheema said.

“In case of any repairs, the same will be done within 24 hours of raising a complaint. We will also ensure regular and mechanised cleaning of these streets using world-class equipment so that they maintain the look for 10 years,” he added.

Mohali AAP MLA Kulwant Singh said though the state had yet to fix the amount to be spent on the district, key roads in Mohali, including Airport Road (PR-7), the road from Balongi to Bestech Mall, and that from YPS Chowk to Golf range, will be upgraded and streamlined.

“The plan is to make Mohali a dream city with the best of infrastructure, including roads, CCTV cameras and healthcare facilities,” the MLA said.

112 control room to come up in Mohali

In another announcement, the minister shared that all emergency calls to 112 helpline in Punjab will be handled from a control room in Mohali for which the state government has approved construction of a state-of-the-art building at an approximate cost of ₹50 crore. HT had reported this first in February.

The building, which will be constructed on one acre in Sector 89, will have centralised control over statewide emergency calls and will divert calls to the district police or police wing concerned. Records of all 112 calls, the response time and status reports will be maintained here. Cheema also shared that natural farming practices will be initiated in Mohali and new tubewells will be installed in the district.

Road to progress

Under the project, roads will be redesigned and re-laid to ensure uniform lane widths and to remove traffic bottlenecks

Proper lane markings will be done on them as per national standards and the roads will be repainted every three months

Obstruction-free and aesthetically pleasing footpaths will be built for pedestrians

Central verges of the roads will also be repaired

Road repairs will be done within 24 hours of complaint.