IEP Chandigarh, March 16
With the motive to provide relief to the common man, Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) has made four roads of the state Toll Free for commuters; Upgradation and Special Repairs of 3571 km link roads carried out expending Rs. 509 Crore across the state. Listing out Punjab Government’s achievements of one year, Punjab PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that Ludhiana – Malerkotla, Hoshiarpur-Tanda, High Level Bridge at Makhu, Balachaur-Garhshankar-Hoshiarpur roads have been made Toll free for the commuters, He said that the contracts of these toll plazas have expired but the companies was indulging in several tantrums to get it extended. He said that keeping the interests of Punjabis above, the state government has decided to close these toll plazas with immediate effect. Apart from this, more such toll plazas will be closed in coming days as the state government is already preparing the list of all other such defaulters. Assailing the successive governments in the state for overburdening people by mortgaging the roads of Punjab for their vested interests, he said that the state government will take every possible step to ensure that people are given reprieve from this burden. Speaking about the other such initiatives taken by the department, he said that the 65 Sewa Kendras have been converted along with up-gradation of 215 Primary Health Centers to Aam Aadmi Clinics during FY 2022-23. “166 Km road length has been completed with an expenditure of Rs 86.70 Crore under Special Assistance scheme,” he said while adding that 3571 km length has been completed with an expenditure of Rs.509 Cr. on completed & ongoing works under Link Roads projects. Highlighting other pro-people projects, Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh said that time bound works such as up-gradation of Schools, Heritage Gates & Streets, 4-Laning of roads and beautification works by plantation of ornamental plants have been completed for G-20 meetings. Further, repair and maintenance of various Govt buildings, hospitals and public buildings have been carried out in a big way in Amritsar. He said that expenditure of Rs. 411 crore has been incurred on ongoing and completed works & 373 KM of rural roads have been upgraded under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in the State. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that work on 28 HLBs/ROBs/RUBs is underway with an expenditure of Rs. 58.26 crore under. The Cabinet Minister further added that the Department has implemented an Engineering & Project Management Module for preparation and submission of Works bills with a mandate to improve the overall working with effective, efficient and transparent methods.
