Punjab PWD minister launches Rs 105.11 crore Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur road reconstruction

Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Saturday laid the foundation stone for Ludhiana-Malerkotla-Sangrur road including Dehlon bypass worth Rs 43.85 crore (under Ludhiana jurisdiction) in Dehlon.

The total cost of the project is Rs 105.11 crore of which Rs 43.85 crore will be spent in Ludhiana and Rs 61.26 crore for Malerkotla where the length of stretch is 48.79 km.

Out of total 73-km length, the work on this 25-km stretch falls under the jurisdiction of Ludhiana district, will be completed in the next nine months. The company responsible for the reconstruction of the road, will also ensure maintenance of the road for the next five years.

Accompanied by MLA Jiwan Singh Sangowal, the Cabinet Minister said that this stretch was one of the important routes and used by the commuters as a bypass to reach Malerkotla, Sangrur and other parts of the state.

He said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was committed to make Punjab a progressive state as it is evident from the developmental projects being effectively carried out in every field.

Listing top-priority to the quality road infrastructure in Punjab, the Minister said that the AAP government had been making strenuous efforts to make the state number one in terms of best road infrastructure. He said that a toll plaza on this road was closed by the government on September 4, 2022.

The Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO also lashed out at previous governments for not reconstructing the road and said that this road should have been overlaid in 2016 but no one listened to the long pending demand of the people.

He said that several lives were lost in the road mishaps being reported daily on this stretch.

He said that the reconstruction of the road would facilitate the commuters in a smooth and hassle free journey and would minimize the mishaps. He also asked the contractual company to ensure use of quality material during the work.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included PWD Superintendent Engineer HS Dhillon, Executive Engineer Pardeep Kumar and others were present.