Chandigarh, November 29
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced to embark the biggest road construction work taken up in the history of the state targeting to construct 44,920 KMs of roads with a total cost of Rs 16,209 Crore. Divulging more details, the Chief Minister said that the state government has decided that by the end of next year, it will build a total of 44,920 KMs of roads across all villages, towns and cities of Punjab at a total cost of Rs 16,209 Crore. He said that these roads will all be with the five years maintenance clause ensuring highest quality standards along with the world class road safety features. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the move is aimed to provide better mobility and boost rural infrastructure in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has already undertaken construction of 19,373 KMs of Rural Link Roads with a Total Cost of 4092 Cr. He said that as the state government toiled hard on this project, the unprecedented devastation caused by the floods this year further eroded the connectivity and mobility in affected areas. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the ongoing road projects envisaged with a path breaking five years maintenance clause in the contract to ensure longevity and quality along with world class safety standards like luminous lane and edge markings, signages and others. He said that this inundated the state government with requests from all quarters to provide same high quality and standard roads across all cities and villages.
The Chief Minister said that always committed to serve the people of Punjab best; the state Government has undertaken an extensive State wide exercise involving multiple agencies to include PMB, PWD, Urban Local Bodies and Public representatives. He said that henceforth the state government carried out an extremely detailed survey of all roads in Punjab, shortlisted those needing repairs, widening or upgradation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now the state government has targeted to construct 44,920 KMs of roads with a total cost of Rs 16,209 crore by the end of next year.
Meanwhile, replying to a query, the Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Chief Minister’s Flying Squad is continuously monitoring the quality of roads, and after receiving several complaints about the use of substandard material, contracts of some contractors have been cancelled. The Chief Minister cautioned that if any contractor is found involved in poor-quality work or if any employee is part of it, strict action will be taken against them. He said that the state government has not received even a single rupee of RDF funds from the central government so far, and the state government is constructing all these roads from its own funds.
The Chief Minister further stated that the central government has not given even a single rupee out of the Rs 1,600 crore rupees special package to the state, and the BJP leadership in Punjab is lying about it. He said that the BJP leaders who claim that funds have been given to the state should know that these are funds from central schemes that Punjab would have received anyway, even if no floods had occurred . However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these funds are not from any special package that the BjP leaders are boasting that the Union government has issued.
Speaking about the strike by PRTC employees, the Chief Minister appealed to all employees to return to work and adopt the path of dialogue with the government. He said the state government is making sincere efforts to resolve all issues of PRTC employees and has even taken up some matters in court. Therefore, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the agitating employees should end their protest and return to work so that the public does not face any inconvenience.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government understands the problems of PRTC employees and is continuously working to address their genuine concerns. He also announced that the Punjab government will soon introduce 900 new government buses in the fleet to provide better transport facilities to the people. Issuing a strong warning to gangsters who are trying to disrupt peace of state, Mann said that such elements should stop their activities and will not be allowed to harm the social fabric of the state.
