In a landmark announcement that promises to transform Punjab's infrastructure landscape, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has unveiled the state's most ambitious road development project to date. The massive initiative, valued at ₹16,209 crore, will see the construction and upgrade of 44,920 kilometers of road networks across the state.
Breaking Down the Mega Infrastructure Project
Addressing media representatives in Chandigarh on Saturday, the Chief Minister provided a detailed breakdown of this unprecedented infrastructure push. The comprehensive plan includes 2,829 kilometers of Public Works Department (PWD) roads and 18,545 kilometers of rural link roads, with this segment alone costing ₹7,727 crore.
Additionally, the project encompasses 22,291 kilometers of road stretches under the Punjab Mandi Board and 1,255 kilometers of urban roads under various civic bodies. These components will be developed at costs of ₹7,697 crore and ₹785 crore respectively, creating a comprehensive network that connects rural and urban Punjab like never before.
Quality Assurance and Funding Mechanisms
Mann emphasized that quality would be non-negotiable in this massive undertaking. I have directed contractors not to compromise on the quality of materials and work, the Chief Minister stated, introducing an innovative accountability mechanism.
In a significant departure from conventional practices, villages will need to pass resolutions confirming their satisfaction with the materials used for road construction before payments are released to contractors. Furthermore, contractors awarded tenders will be responsible for maintaining the roads for five years after completion, ensuring long-term durability.
When questioned about funding, Mann revealed that the Punjab government is financing these road projects independently, as the state's rural development fund from the Centre has not been released. He also alleged that the ₹1,600-crore flood-relief amount for the state hasn't seen a single penny released by the central government.
Political Sparring Over Infrastructure and Tragedy
The press conference took a political turn when Mann responded to criticism from Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who accused the Punjab CM of 'playing politics' over recent deaths of two youths on basketball courts in Haryana.
When we are in politics, what else should we do? Mann countered, highlighting what he described as contradictory expectations from political opponents. He recalled that during the India Against Corruption movement that preceded AAP's formation, critics argued that laws cannot be made by protesting on roads and that activists should join politics instead.
Defending his visit to meet the family of a young athlete who died in Rohtak, Mann questioned whether sharing grief with bereaved families constituted politics. If sports infrastructure is so bad that it claimed the life of a young athlete, and if I went to meet the family in Rohtak and share their grief, is that doing politics? he asked rhetorically.
The Chief Minister pointed to another similar incident in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, where another athlete died, asking pointedly: Will sportspersons return dead from the grounds? He asserted that sports infrastructure across the country needs significant improvement, particularly with India set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Mann also made serious allegations regarding the Lakhanmajra sports ground in Rohtak, claiming that Haryana authorities didn't utilize ₹12-lakh funds because they were sanctioned by Congress MP Deepender Hooda. If going to offer condolence for a teenage player who has died is politics, then we will do it 24X7, Mann asserted defiantly.
On the subject of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's recent visit to Moga and Jalandhar, Mann took a swipe at the Union Cabinet, suggesting they treat Punjab as a tourism place rather than engaging with substantial state issues. His remarks indicated that only two people—apparently referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah—ultimately call the shots in the central government.
