After potholed roads in the city put SAD candidate from Jalandhar parliamentary segment Pawan Kumar Tinu on a defence during his election campaign, party president and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal is learnt to have issued a strict order to mayor Sunil Jyoti to ensure carpeting of all major roads before April 15.
Sources said in a meeting held between Sukhbir, Tinu and other senior leaders from Jalandhar parliamentary segment on Tuesday, the party candidate described bad roads in the city as the only big issue the party faced.
Tinu is learnt to have told the deputy chief minister that if roads were carpeted on time, the SAD-BJP could overcome anti-incumbency and issue of "non-performance" in the municipal area.
Even as the work on all the major roads had already been allotted before the model code of conduct came into force, it could not be started properly due to rain recently.
"Not only deputy CM but the civic body also wants to complete carpeting of roads soon. Fresh instructions have been given to contractors to complete the roads as soon as possible," the mayor said.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the mayor was seen monitoring the road work himself. The Congress, on the other hand, is gearing up to make bad roads in the city a major poll plank during the election campaign.
{{/usCountry}}On Wednesday and Thursday, the mayor was seen monitoring the road work himself. The Congress, on the other hand, is gearing up to make bad roads in the city a major poll plank during the election campaign.
{{/usCountry}}"You will find poor roads where it has become very tough to ply vehicles. Is this the development shown by the SAD chief Jalandhar has become the worst city during the seven-year rule of this government," said state youth Congress chief Vikram Chaudhary.
He is also the son of Congress candidate from Jalandhar parliamentary seat Chaudhary Santokh Singh.The SAD is of the opinion that once road carpeting gets completed, the Congress would be left with not many issues to speak about.Stretches to be carpeted before April 15HMV College to Maqsudan Pathankot Chowk to Max Chowk Nakodar Road to MC limitsCircular Road Patel Chowk-Railway StationRailway Station to Press Club Ladowali RoadRailway station to Madan Cloth MillPAP Chowk to BSF Chowk