Patchwork begins on Sirhind-Patiala Road amid monsoon; widening work continues

Even as major construction work to widen the 29-km Sirhind–Patiala Road is underway, the government has initiated patchwork along the battered stretch as part of the larger Rs 119.6 crore infrastructure upgrade project.

The decision to begin patch repairs during the peak monsoon season has drawn criticism from commuters and residents, although some have welcomed the move, saying, “Better late than never.”

Daily commuters expressed concern that the bitumen used for the patchwork would soon erode due to rain, once again exposing the potholes. They argued that these should have been repaired in the first week of June.

The road, which connects Patiala with key neighbouring districts including Mandi Gobindgarh, Fatehgarh Sahib and Mohali, had been riddled with potholes for months.

These potholes made daily travel an ordeal, increasing the risk of accidents — especially during the night due to the lack of street lighting. Commuters, particularly two-wheeler riders, described the stretch as a “death trap” in the dark.

Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO stated that the widening project is progressing at a swift pace and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026. Notably, a key milestone — the steel bridge near village Sidhuwal — has already been completed and opened to vehicular traffic, easing movement in that section.

The project, which received administrative approval on December 9, 2021, was sanctioned during the previous government’s tenure. However, it was approved just ahead of the Assembly elections without obtaining mandatory statutory clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and with utility relocations still pending, resulting in delays.

The widening effort required acquisition of 22.59 hectares of forest land along the road’s Right of Way (ROW). In compliance with environmental norms, the Punjab Forest Department is compensating by developing 45.18 hectares of forest land in Ropar and Hoshiarpur districts, a government official stated.

To offset the removal of 7,392 trees, 1,733 under-girth poles and 5,730 shrubs and plants, the Forest Department is undertaking compensatory and additional afforestation with a target of planting 60,106 saplings, said the Minister.

Patiala