Chandigarh, December 31
While promising state-of-the-art infrastructure to investors in Punjab, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had glossed over the ground realities, including the poor road network.

Behind the facade of the state’s “glowing face” lies the ugly reality of increasing road accidents and frequent traffic jams in all major towns of Punjab.

Badal had recently announced that the government would construct 1,253-km highways in three years to equip Punjab with world-class road infrastructure - a clear indication to the fact that a lot is yet to be done. The project aims at four or six-laning the existing roads in all major cities which underlines the “inept” existing infrastructure, particularly in context of increasing vehicular traffic.

Badal had also announced that all link roads would be strengthened and renovated by September 30. Seven new four-lane Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) would be constructed on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran Road, Faridkot-Talwandi Bhai Road, Kotkapura-Faridkot Road, Bathinda-Dabwali road, besides two in Ferozepur cantonment.

Punjab Road Safety Council vice-chairman Kamaljeet Soi said: “The Punjab Government is constructing roads, but more than 50 per cent of the existing roads are poorly maintained. The Deputy CM’s dream situation exists only on paper. Road links need to be developed keeping in mind people’s safety.”

The government needs to work hard to improve road network, particularly in old congested quarters such as Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Hoshiarpur to help investors transport raw material to different areas. At present, the process is hampered by restricted traffic movement on city roads during daytime.

Jagdeep Singh, a Hoshiarpur-based businessman, said: “Majority of the roads in the state are ridden with potholes and broken patches. Even toll tax barriers have taken a toll on a common man.”

The Punjab Police website confirms that there are 382 accident-prone spots across the state, maximum being in Gurdaspur (44), followed by Batala (42), Ludhiana (35), Sangrur (32), Amritsar (30), Bathinda and Mohali (25 each). Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar said: “The Punjab Government had never sincerely tried to improve the rail infrastructure, which is vital for an effective industrial base. ”