Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann carried out surprise inspections of three under-construction roads in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib on Thursday. He found serious flaws on the Ritkheri link road in Patiala. The construction quality disappointed him, and he immediately ordered officials to issue a show-cause notice to the contractor. He also froze all pending payments and asked teams to collect samples for lab testing.
Mann said this inspection drive forms part of a statewide campaign to ensure high-quality road construction. He stressed that every project uses public money, so every road must meet strict standards. He inspected the Patiala–Sirhind road and the Rudki–Riunna Plain road in Fatehgarh Sahib as well, and sent their samples for testing.
The CM said the state aims to build 44,920 km of roads at a cost of ₹16,209 crore, the largest road project in Punjab’s history. All new roads come with a five-year mandatory maintenance clause and world-class safety markings.
He noted that floods damaged many roads, so the government accelerated rural link projects worth ₹4,092 crore. Mann urged citizens to monitor construction in their areas and report irregularities. He warned that his flying squads watch projects closely and have already cancelled several faulty contracts.
