Burglary in ex-minister’s house
Phagwara, September 19
The house of former BJP minister Ch Swarna Ram was reportedly burgled in nearby Behram village a few days back. The burglars took away a refrigerator, washing machine, water cooler, geyser, besides other valuables.

Jalandhar, September 19
Contrary to the Punjab Government's claims of providing a world-class road network in the state, the damaged Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur stretch of the Jalandhar-Dharmsala National Highway No. 3 has not only been proving a nightmare to the road users, but has also been causing huge losses to industrialists and transporters for a long time.

The current rainy season has further exposed the tall claims of the Punjab Government by damaging the highway at many places, putting the motorists to a great hardship.

Knee-deep potholes have developed at many places, especially Rama Mandi, Jandu Singha, Adampur (in Jalandhar district), Piplawala, Hoshiarpur City and various other places, as rainwater has washed away the bitumen layer.

The worst-affected stretches are Adda Hoshiarpur to Jandu Singha in Jalandhar district and Pabhat Chowk to Piplanwala village and Banjar Bagh Chowk to bus-stand in Hoshairpur district.

The authorities have filled the potholes with bricks or boulders at many places to make the highway drivable.

The Adda Hoshiarpur-Jandu Singha stretch that continues to be in a broken state for the past over six-seven years has been virtually proving a death trap for motorists.

The road is being used by industrialists of both the districts to ferry goods (raw and finished) from their establishments to industries in Himachal Pradesh and vice-versa. More than 4,000 trucks of various truck operator unions ply on this road every day.

The road has virtually turned into a canal at some places, following which we have to take Jalandhar-PAP Chowk-Rama Madi and Jandu Singh route to reach Hoshiarpur and the reverse route while coming to Jalandhar from the Hoshiarpur side, taking a detour of over 8 km extra, lamented Happy Sandu, president of All Truck Operators Union, Punjab.

Sharad Aggarwal, president, Chamber of Small and Medium Industry, Jalandhar, claimed that the area along the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road was an approved Industrial Zone and the industry was expanding towards this side. Expressing concern over the sorry state of the road network, Aggarwal said the investors have started looking for some other alternative sites to set up industrial units now.

SP Singh, Executive Engineer, Central Works Division of PWD (B and R), Hoshiarpur, claimed that the department had earmarked Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh for the patchwork to be done on the Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar highway after the rainy season ends.

He, however, claimed that the Jandu Singh-Adda Hoshiarpur stretch falls under the jurisdictions of PPWD (B and R) Jalandhar.

BS Tulli, Executive Engineer, provincial wing the PWD (B and R), Jalandhar, admitted that the sections were in a pitiable state and claimed that a proposal (demanding section of Rs 3.5 crore) had been sent to the higher authorities in this regard and they were waiting for a favourable reply.