4658 KM ROADS AND 68 BRIDGES DAMAGED IN PUNJAB DUE TO DEVASTATING FLOODS: HARBHAJAN SINGH ETO
RS.1969.50 CRORE REQUIRED FOR RESTORATION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES
Chandigarh, September 17 (WISHAVWARTA):- Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO today informed that the recent devastating floods have caused extensive damage to 4658 kilometers of roads and 68 bridges across the state.
Presiding over the review meeting with departmental officials regarding the assessment of losses, the Cabinet Minister disclosed that under Plan Roads, 19 bridges and 1592.76 kilometers of roads have been damaged along with R-walls and B-walls measuring 4014.11 meters and 92 culverts. Similarly, under National Highways, 4 bridges and 49.69 kilometers of roads have been damaged in addition to 2559.5 meters of R-walls and B-walls and 14 culverts. Under Link Roads, 45 bridges and 2357.84 kilometers of roads have suffered damages along with 3282 meters of R-walls and B-walls and 376 culverts. Apart from this, 657.54 kilometers of roads built under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana have also been affected.
He said that an estimated expenditure of Rs.1969.50 crore will be required for the repair and restoration of damaged bridges, roads, R-walls, B-walls and culverts.
During the meeting, Harbhajan Singh ETO directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately improve the condition of different roads in Punjab. He also instructed them to expedite projects that have not yet taken off.
The Cabinet Minister further expressed concern over recurring accidents caused by delays in repairing service roads alongside the under-construction flyovers at Mallian, Tangra and Daburji on the Amritsar-Jandiala section. He directed officials to complete this work without any further delay.
He also directed NHAI officers to address the traffic congestion persisting under the Kharar Flyover.
The Cabinet Minister informed that during the meeting, discussions were also held on the app-based survey being conducted by the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to assess flood-related damages in nearly 2800 villages.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Special Secretary PWD (B\&R) Mrs. Hargun Jeet Kaur, Chief Engineer Gagandeep Singh, Chief Engineer Vijay Kumar Chopra, Chief Engineer Ramtesh Bains, Chief Engineer Anil Gupta, NHAI Regional Officer Rakesh Kumar and Project Director Mr. Aseem Bansal.
