Punjab Infrastructure Boost: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered strict action after serious irregularities were found in the construction of the Reetkheri link road in Patiala district. During a surprise inspection, the Chief Minister directed officials to issue a show-cause notice to the contractor and stop all pending payments immediately. Mann inspected three under-construction roads—two in Patiala district and one in Fatehgarh Sahib. While two roads met the required standards, deficiencies were found in the Reetkheri link road. Road samples have been collected for laboratory testing to verify compliance with quality norms.
Punjab Infrastructure Boost: CM Mann Launches Drive to Improve Road Quality Across Punjab
The Chief Minister said the purpose of these inspections is to ensure that public money is spent on high-quality infrastructure. He emphasized that the state government is committed to delivering durable roads and maintaining strict oversight over construction projects. Surprise inspections will continue in the coming days. Mann instructed all departments—including PWD, Urban Local Bodies, and utility agencies—to coordinate sewerage, water supply, and cable-laying work before road construction begins. This will prevent newly built roads from being damaged soon after completion and ensure efficient use of public funds. The Chief Minister appealed to citizens to monitor ongoing roadwork in their localities. He urged the public to report any lapses or substandard construction directly to the government, assuring strict action against negligent contractors.
Punjab’s Largest Road Development Project Underway
Punjab has launched the biggest road construction initiative in its history—44,920 kilometers of roads to be built by next year at a cost of ₹16,209 crore. A mandatory five-year maintenance clause has been added to every project to ensure long-term durability and world-class safety standards. To strengthen rural connectivity, the state government has begun construction of 19,373 km of rural link roads costing ₹4,092 crore.
Many roads damaged by this year’s floods are also being rebuilt with improved structural and safety features, including reflective markings and signboards. The Chief Minister said the CM Flying Squad is actively monitoring road construction quality across the state. Several contractor agreements have already been terminated due to the use of substandard materials. Mann reiterated that the government will not tolerate corruption or poor workmanship and will ensure full accountability.
