Cut expenses, shun piecemeal approach & repair roads

How to improve condition of tricity roads & ensure a smooth ride? 

Check load on approach roads

Generally roads are carpeted after monsoon, but this year the repair is being carried out till date. Mohali and Kharar roads are being repaired by respective civic bodies in a selected manner due to the upcoming elections. The government has allowed big builders to construct housing and commercial structures around the Chandigarh periphery without checking load on approach roads. The quality and period of road carpeting needs to be rechecked for providing hassle and accident free ride to commuters. Also officials concerned and contractors should be accountable for poor quality repair of roads.

Wg Cmdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali

Concrete roads only answer

(The Chandigarh Administration has no money constraint for the 2020-21 fiscal. The problem lies in its utilisation by councillors, who always want more and more facilities for themselves.) Roads maintenance should get priority. Concrete roads are the solution as they do not require regular maintenance. The bitumen mix is compromised by contractors leading to a short life span of roads. There is no focus on quality and as a result roads get damaged before deadline. There should be third party external audit of road recarpeting work. The key is to do the repair work guided by a trained team and follow maintenance schedule thereafter. Else, public money will be wasted by the MC.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

Regular repair need of the hour

The poor condition of Chandigarh roads have made lives of commuters a hell. The authorities concerned seemed to be least concerned regarding recarpeting or patch work of roads. During rain, drivers can’t gauge potholes, which causes mishaps and damages vehicles. We used to take pride in City Beautiful. Some of my relatives, who came from Punjab recently, were making fun of roads in the UT. Roads in the industrial area are no better than in other parts of the city. The authorities concerned must repair and maintain roads at regular intervals.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Utilise funds on repairs impartially

The UT Municipal Corporation is cash starved due to its bad planning. Road are repaired by the MC on the basis of location and not necessity. As a result roads in northern sectors are good. This is done at the cost of neglecting roads in southern sectors of the city. Worst sufferers are commuters in Kishangarh Dariya and Mani Majra where driving is nightmarish particularly during monsoon As vehicle owners pay road tax irrespective of their residential location funds should be utilised impartially for road repairs.

SC LUTHRA, Chandigarh

Cut facilities given to councillors

Recarpeting of roads should be priority of the MC. Potholed roads force drivers to drive in a zigzag manner. Situation gets worse during monsoon as potholes gets filled with rainwater and are difficult to see by commuters leading to accidents. The MC need to cut down its lavish expenditure on events, tea parties etc. Facilities and study tours of councillors must be withdrawn.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Bring more funds from Centre

Several roads in the tricity and surrounding areas are teeming with potholes and need urgent repairs. The Airport Road is worst of all and is in the news for wrong reasons. The MCs always cite fund crunch for non-maintenance of roads. Even though the elected MP is from the ruling party, she has failed to bring adequate funds from the Centre for necessary public works.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Taxpayers deserve better roads

Providing good roads to citizens to commute is one of the primary duties of the Chandigarh Administration. No doubt people pay hefty taxes for getting their vehicles registered. So, they deserve better roads, which will not only prevent accidents, but also enhance life of vehicles. Potholed road are dangerous especially for two-wheeler drivers. There is a dire need to carry out repair works at the earliest.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Nothing is precious than human life

Potholed roads in Mohali are a concern for commuters. They are always at risk while driving on damaged roads in the city. Similar situation is faced by residents of Chandigarh and Panchkula. Human lives cannot be put in danger because of paucity of funds. Repairing and recarpeting of roads must be a priority of the authorities concerned.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

Provide adequate funds to MC

It’s pity to see deplorable condition of roads in the tricity. Potholed roads cause fatal accidents. Neck and spine injury during routine commuting is another issue faced by riders in the tricity. More emphasis is needed on quality of recarpeting roads. Adequate funds must be provided for this purpose to the MC. An emergency team should be formed to fill potholes and repair cracks on roads in each sector and enhance public safety. Warning signals must be displayed on roads, which need urgent repairs. The MC staff must be encouraged to repair broken roads immediately.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

No excuse for not doing repair work

Pathetic conditions of roads in the tricity is due to lax attitude of officials concerned. Earlier the excuse was curfew/lockdown and now its money crunch. Heavy taxes are levied on residents. When the question of providing facilities arises, officials have no answer. Concerned MP/MLA should intervene to sort out the issue and arrange more funds for the repair/recarpeting work. The authorities should start repair of roads immediately. Many precious lives will be saved.

MR Bhateja, Chandigarh

Central govt should enhance annual funds

The condition of roads in the tricity has gone from bad to worse. It is a fact that lots of funds, genuine desire, hardwork and time bound efforts are required to bring back roads into pristine condition. The MC should approach the UT Administrator for funds to repair roads. The Centre Government should enhance annual budgetary allocation for the UT Municipal Corporation to improve city infrastructure, including roads.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

Low quality material used for repairs

Uneven road surface can make driver lose control of his/her vehicle leading to accident. Almost 50% accidents are caused due to bad roads. Contractors use low quality material to recarpet/repair roads to get more profit in their business. It damages roads before the deadline. The MC should pay attention towards quality control. Good roads contribute in development of the country.

Akshar Kumar Singla

Create Special account for road repairs

Most roads in Chandigarh are potholed. The MC is also not taking notice on this serious issue. The civic body should immediately recarpet roads teeming with potholes on priority basis. The MC should demand special budget from the Centre for road repairs and cut unnecessary expenditure. The UT Municipal Corporation can start a special account in which people can voluntary contribute for road repairs.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Tap industry for funds

Tricity roads need constant monitoring to avoid deterioration. This is important due to increased vehicular traffic. Recarpeting/repair should be done on need basis. The UT MC is as usual starved of much needed funds particularly for road maintenance. Industrial houses can be tapped for funds under the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). Let companies fund repair/recarpeting and in turn give them display rights along specified roads.

Dr Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

Stepmotherly treatment for city

Broken roads are a blot on UT’s face. Not only motorists, but pedestrian can also get hurt anytime on potholed roads. Since the BJP came to power City Beautiful is getting a stepmotherly treatment. Madam Kiran Kher should impress on the MC to repair city’s potholed roads. If the Administration cannot maintain Chandigarh’s status then it should be handed over to Punjab, but don’t ruin it.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh

Civic bodies lack responsibility

The pitiable condition of roads show that MCs in the tricity lack responsibility. They don’t realise that motorists driving on potholed roads are inconvenienced and their lives are at stake. The MC is formed for undertaking welfare and necessary works in the city. First preference for the utilisation of funds available with the MC should be road maintenance and safety of residents.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

‘Chalta hai’ scenario must change

Roads are an index of development. The root cause and culprit for poor roads is lax quality control during construction. Wearing of roads over time is a normal. But, surely something is amiss where there is premature erosion and emergence of potholes. Civic bodies need to take a cue from the NHAI vis-a-vis techniques and procedures for road maintenance. Properly documented third party inspection of repair/recarpeting work can help. It’s time to fix responsibility and liability for broken roads. Contracts can have a two-year warranty clause and part payment for the work undertaken can be withheld. The ‘chalta hai’ scenario must change.

Lalit Bharadwaj,Panchkula

Corruption is the root cause

Corruption is main cause of pitiable condition of roads in the tricity. Contractors use sub-standard material in road construction. The quality of material should be checked in labs. Officials concerned should supervise construction work from beginning to end. They should be held responsible for omissions in road repair, recarpeting or construction. Public money should be spent on their welfare only. Useless tours of councillors should be banned.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Break nexus between officials, politicians

There is a need to create favorable conditions for domestic and foreign investment to improve basic infrastructure in the tricity and beyond. The Metro Project has been scrapped. So, the traffic load on roads, which are in shambles, has increased much to the inconvenience of commuters. The official-politician nexus, which is the reason for the poor condition of roads in the tricity, has to be broken. The respective administrations in the tricity should recognise the importance of good roads and provide adequate funds for recarpeting/repair.

Col Balbir singh Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

MC, leaders have neglected Zirakpur

Societies and houses have mushroomed in Zirakpur over the years, but the condition of roads here did not improve. There is not a single road where big potholes can not be spotted in the city. Broken roads damage vehicles and cause accidents. Recarpeting work is not done in a planned manner by the Municipal Committee because of rampant corruption. The problem aggravates when potholes on roads get filled with water from over flowing sewer. Residents opine that Zirakpur has been neglected by the Municipal Committee and local politicians.

SC Dhall, Zirakpur

Public work officials’ responsibility

Smooth ride on roads is the right of citizens. While taking up any essential work a man is always short of money. When necessity is absolute he somehow arranges money needed for the work. If houses and vehicles of government officials, which are disproportionate to their means, are in perfect order, then why road repair/recarpeting carried out by them is not good? Officials concerned should take public works, including road maintenance, as their personal responsibility. Let government funds be used exclusively for the job in hand. Commuters’ safety is government’s responsibility.

Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali

Use polymer modified bitumen

The MC should follow safety approach with respect to road design, engineering and construction. Use of high quality material must be ensured in constructing roads for heavy traffic. Technology can be used to monitor the road condition, speed of vehicles and traffic volume. There should be regular maintenance and accountability of officials and contractors in construction/repair of roads. Use of polymer modified bitumen can increase longevity of roads and is an environment friendly solution. A repair machine using Jetpatcher Technology can fix roads in a few minutes.

Komal Singh, Chandigarh

Ensure tax realisation from residents

Pandemic and consequent lockdown has hit MCs financially in the tricity. Besides, callous approach of officials concerned has aggravated the issue of broken roads. Perhaps they don’t consider danger to lives of motorists. Main source of MC’s income is property and other taxes. The MC should ensure tax realisation from residents to increase its income. At least potholes on roads should be filled if carpeting is not possible due to fund crunch.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Keep new projects pending, repair roads

The MCC and its counterparts in the surrounding areas are short of funds required for the maintenance of roads. The number of vehicles getting damaged due to potholed roads is rising in the tricity. All authorities concerned should ask for special onetime allocation of funds for restoring the pristine glory of roads. The Centre, Punjab and Haryana governments should sanction funds for road repair/recarpeting. New projects, which eat away funds, should be kept pending and road repair should be given priority.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

Create Separate head for road tax

It will be better if a separate head for tax collected from owners during registration of vehicles is created. Funds collected under the head can be exclusively used for the maintenance of roads in the city. Ours is the City Beautiful and its upkeep is the responsibility of the MC and the Administration.

Tarlok Singh, Chandigarh

Check material used in recarpeting roads

Everyday, many people get injured or killed in road accidents, which mainly occur because of pitiable condition of roads. Road tax and toll are being charged and increased regularly, but repair and recarpeting is not done regularly. Besides, the quality check is poor during construction of roads. Good roads reduce accidents and traffic snarls. Potholes on roads increase accidents. So, these should be filled immediately. Special teams must be formed to keep a check on material used in road repair/recarpeting. The MC should ensure road repair on priority basis and not compromise with the quality of work.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

Driving on city roads nightmarish

Much has been written and spoken about the poor condition of roads in Chandigarh, which give commuters goosebumps while driving. Deaf dispensation does not care for the proper upkeep of roads in UT. Roads in low-lying pockets of the city are reduced to slush with slightest downpour during monsoon. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) needs to shun piecemeal measures to address the problem of broken roads and come out with a lasting solution. The civic body needs to jettison parroting financial crunch as the plausible reason for poor maintenance of roads and cut its overhead expenses, including those splurged on councillors’ tours and other wasteful extravaganza. Regular repairs of roads should be carried out to streamline the flow of traffic.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

Repair schedule hardly followed

Residents of the City Beautiful are inconvenienced by the poor condition of city roads. Broken roads cause daily accidents, besides damaging vehicles. Though the authorities concerned frame schedule to recarpet/repair roads, yet it is hardly adhered to. Work to repair roads is assigned to contractors, who do not provide quality. Road repair/recarpeting should be undertaken by the department concerned.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

QUESTION

A second wave of Covid-19 is feared in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. Air pollution can further worsen the pandemic situation in the tricity. What should the authorities and residents do to prevent a second outbreak of the virus?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com