The state's Local Bodies Department has issued a stern directive to the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC), aiming to pave the way for smoother road travel in the industrial city. The department has mandated strict adherence to construction specifications and regular laboratory testing of materials to curb the rampant wastage of public funds on substandard roads.
Key Directives to Curb Financial Drain
In a formal letter addressed to MC commissioners and improvement trusts across Punjab, the director of the Local Bodies Department highlighted a persistent problem. The department noted that urban local bodies, including the Ludhiana MC, frequently ignore prescribed quality standards during road construction. This negligence leads to premature deterioration and a massive drain on the exchequer.
The department has laid down a clear set of guidelines to tackle this issue head-on. Officials have been instructed to ensure zero laxity in road works and guarantee full compliance with all technical specifications. A critical rule mandates the compulsory presence of a junior engineer at the construction site at all times. Furthermore, ongoing development work must be directly supervised by senior technical officers like the assistant municipal engineer or assistant corporation engineer to maintain quality control.
Payment Linked to Quality Certificates
In a move to ensure material quality, the department has directed that all construction material must be tested by a laboratory approved by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Payments to contractors should only be released after receiving a satisfactory test report, which must then be formally included in the official project records. This step directly ties financial disbursements to proven quality, aiming to eliminate the use of inferior materials.
Chronic Issues and Political Pressure
This is not the first time such instructions have been circulated; however, their implementation has historically been weak. A senior official familiar with the matter pointed to a dual challenge: severe manpower shortages and intense political pressure.
The official explained that civic bodies lack adequate regular staff, while outsourced workers often lack a sense of accountability. "Moreover, they often remain under political pressure to construct roads as soon as possible, especially before elections, so at that time speedy work is demanded over quality," the official stated. This rush to complete projects for electoral gains frequently results in compromised standards and poor durability.
Other civic bodies, including the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), face similar monitoring challenges. The department has emphasised that this time, the instructions must be implemented without fail to ensure the longevity of infrastructure and the proper utilisation of taxpayer money. The success of this directive hinges on overcoming chronic staff shortages and resisting political interference to finally give Ludhiana the durable, smooth roads its citizens deserve.
