Pilibhit Villagers Accuse PWD of Substandard Road Construction
Residents of Bidhipur village in Pilibhit district have raised serious allegations against the public works department (PWD), claiming that a newly constructed road is of substandard quality. In a dramatic demonstration, villagers showed that the surface layer of the road could be peeled off with bare hands, highlighting potential construction flaws.
Details of the Road Project
Village pradhan Chet Ram provided specifics about the project. He stated that the 4.6-kilometer stretch, connecting the Bidhipur crematorium to Gajraula village, was commissioned on February 5. The work was carried out through a registered PWD contractor, Yaqub Siddiqi, at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh. According to Ram, a 220-meter section was built using cement concrete, while the remaining part was laid with bitumen and stone aggregates.
Complaints and Lack of Response
Residents reported that they filed a formal complaint two days ago with PWD executive engineer Rajesh Chaudhary and Pilibhit BJP MP Jitin Prasada, alleging substandard construction. Despite this, villagers claim there has been no improvement in the quality of the work, and construction continued without a proper technical survey. Chet Ram emphasized the historical context, noting that the road was originally built around 10 years ago and has only been repaired once since then. He expressed concern that the poor quality of the new repairs would recreate significant inconveniences, particularly for farmers transporting crops to procurement points on tractor-trolleys.
Quality Control and Official Response
It is noteworthy that departmental engineers are tasked with verifying the quality of work at every stage of road construction to ensure compliance with assigned standards. While the executive engineer could not be reached for comment, district magistrate Gyanendra Singh assured that the administration would not compromise on construction quality under any condition. He announced that a technical team would be deputed to physically verify whether the standards were followed. Singh warned that if the work is found to be substandard, stern action would be taken against the contractor and any PWD personnel responsible for supervision and quality control.
Broader Implications
This incident raises questions about oversight and accountability in public infrastructure projects. The villagers' allegations underscore the need for stricter monitoring and enforcement of construction standards to prevent such issues in the future. The administration's promised investigation will be crucial in determining the extent of the problem and ensuring corrective measures are implemented promptly.
