Open House: How can we stop Chandigarh roads from turning into virtual death traps?

Hold civic body accountable

It’s intriguing to observe that such a worrisome scenario has come to enjoy the dubious distinction of being an annual phenomenon sans fixation of any responsibility. It goes without saying that it could all be a matter of getting the priorities right. Let the Municipal Corporation first bring its own House in order by pre-fixing the personal accountability of the officials assigned with overseeing the proper maintenance of roads. Mind you, there’s no room for any complacency on this count more so when each and every drop of precious public money counts.

Kumar Gupt, Panchkula

UT admn should take up road maintenance

The condition of roads in some areas like Manimajra is very poor, with pot holes galore. Roads are also damaged when during the digging process to replace damaged pipelines as they are at times left as is. The public utility services such as internet providers are also responsible to some extent. If the MC is unable to repair the roads for the want of funds, the administration should take up the job itself.

IPS Anand, Manimajra

Don’t let politics interfere with development

A majority of the roads in City Beautiful are in a bad shape. The do indeed become death traps for the commuters after heavy rainfall. Roads have not been recarpeted due to the shortage of funds for long. The fund crunch has been created due to the rift between administration and the MC. Political affiliation of administration and the civic body has also made the commuters suffer in the past. The administration and MC must be made accountable for the lapses as the public deserves better.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali

Timely repairs can fix the problem

The UT Administration must take over responsibility of road maintenance from the financially struggling MC. Smooth, well-carpeted roads are essential for public safety and the city’s reputation. Maintenance contracts should be awarded to capable and professional contractors with clear timelines for regular upkeep. Given India’s seasonal extremes, potholes are inevitable, but prompt repairs must be ensured before they become life-threatening. Accountability for any negligence should rest with both contractors as well as officials concerned.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Admn should offer financial support

The critical state of roads post-monsoon demands immediate and decisive action. While transferring the entire road network to the UT Administration might offer a short-term financial fix, it could undermine the MC’s mandate and decentralisation principles. A more impactful approach involves strengthening the MC through substantial financial grants, concurrently establishing a stringent oversight mechanism. Crucially, accountability for the current dereliction of duty must be fixed.

Amanjot Kaur, Mohali

Put an end to blame game

The alarming cave-ins on city roads post-monsoon have exposed the grave failure of the MC in maintaining basic infrastructure. When roads turn into death traps, urgent systemic correction is non-negotiable. The UT Administration must consider taking full control of the city’s road network, ensuring professional upkeep, stronger accountability, and better disaster preparedness. The current fragmented responsibility only leads to blame games and citizen suffering. Officials responsible for criminal neglect must face strict disciplinary and legal action to set a precedent.

Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali

An authority overseeing devp work required

Given the Municipal Corporation’s recurring financial and operational shortcomings, it would be prudent for the UT Administration to assume control of the entire road network. A centralised and better-funded authority might bring the efficiency and oversight that is currently lacking. Moreover, officials responsible for the present state of affairs must be held accountable. Public funds are being spent, yet the safety and convenience of citizens remain compromised. Negligence cannot be overlooked, and swift action is the need of the hour.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Set up a mobile repair team

Vehicle density has increased many folds as per capita vehicle density. It is high time MC officials take emergency measures to repair caved in roads due to onset of monsoon. Funds should not come in the way of upkeep and maintenance of the city beautiful roads. At the same time modern technology for automatic recreating and repairs are under taken on emergency by “mobile repair team”. At the same time to reduce vehicle density on roads, metro project and ring road around tricity should be expedited. This will also improve AQI level. Lastly, funds should not come in the way for repair and upkeep of internal roads of tricity.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Need a different governance model

Chandigarh does not have a legislative assembly. The MC acts as the local governing authority. The administration, meanwhile, is led by an Administrator. The setup can limit the territory’s autonomy when it comes to decision-making. An elected assembly could provide Chandigarh with more autonomy, allowing it to tailor policies to its specific needs. The elected representatives would be directly accountable to the people, potentially leading to more responsive governance. An assembly could facilitate more inclusive and representative decision-making.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar

Pooling funds can solve the issue

The MC is struggling financially and the situation is not improving despite significant efforts. The negative results are for everyone to see. Residents are made to suffer and bear the brunt of the empty coffers of the MC in one way or the other. Many of the roads have caved in at many of the points. Fatal accidents can take place at any time. There is a dire need to repair the roads on urgent basis. As it is for sure the ailing MC has failed, it would be much better if the work is entrusted upon the UT Administration. If possible, the MC may be asked to cover some percentage of the total costs.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Punjab, Haryana govts should pitch in

Chandigarh is the seat of power for two states apart from it’s own administration. City roads have heavy influx of traffic from the states of Punjab and Haryana. Expenditure on the maintenance of roads in the city must be shared either proportionately by all the three stakeholders or funded by the Centre. Why are the MC and city residents being burdened alone?

RP Malhotra Panchkula

Admn can ensure better co-ordination

The UT Administration can bring in stricter oversight, technical expertise and inter-departmental co-ordination. Moreover, it has better access to state or central funds to tackle infrastructure decay systematically. Poor condition of roads puts lives at risk and demands accountability. Contractors, engineers and auditors who oversaw poor construction must face penalties or suspension. Ultimately, public safety must come before bureaucratic turf wars. Elected representatives who failed to act on public grievances must also face scrutiny.

Anita K Tandon, Mundi Kharar

Turn to private firm for repairs

The MC’s fund crunch is not the only problem. We can see how good private sector can be when assigned work and it stands in stark contrast with how the government authorities work. Responsibilities should be fixed whether it is MC or Administration. It is not only roads but all other problems too that need to be addressed. But the underlying problem is irresponsible behaviour from the authorities. The councillors have enough funds go on foreign tours, but when roads are to be repaired, they are always found lacking.

Gulshan Kumar, Chandigarh

Audits, third-party inspections needed

This alarming state of roads highlights poor maintenance and lack of accountability, especially from the financially ailing MC. In the interest of public safety, the UT administration should consider taking control of the entire road network to ensure better coordination, timely repairs, and quality control. A centralised system under the UT can bring uniform standards, faster redressal of complaints, and more efficient utilisation of funds. Regular audits and third-party inspections should be made mandatory.

Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh

Road network should be brouhg under Admn

The MC is reeling under a fiscal crunch, thereby neglecting basic amenities for the residents. Cave-ins at roads, especially during monsoons, become a death trap for the masses. Open gutters and shabby and waterlogged roads full of potholes wrecked havoc for the commuters. It is sheer negligence of the MC officials to maintain the city roads not only in routine but during monsoon as well. The UT administration should take control from MC as residents are paying taxes and failed to get the services.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Admn better equipped to maintain roads

The UT Administration should take over the 2,000-km road network from the financially strained MC to ensure timely repairs and prevent monsoon-related cave-ins, which have turned city roads into death traps. The MC’s fiscal crunch, with no road carpeting since 2024, demands urgent action. Transferring maintenance to the UT’s engineering wing, backed by stable funding like RLA revenue, can restore roads efficiently. Simultaneously, MC officials must be held accountable for neglecting maintenance, with a transparent inquiry into lapses in drain cleaning and repair delays.

Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali

Quality construction need of the hour

To improve road conditions, authorities can invest in better drainage systems, regular maintenance, and quality construction materials. Implementing preventive measures like fixing potholes before the monsoon season and conducting regular inspections can also help. Additionally, officials can adopt innovative technologies like smart sensors that monitor road conditions, detecting issues before they become major problems. Using geosynthetics and reinforced materials that enhance road durability.

Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

Single, accountable agency needed

The deplorable condition of roads in Chandigarh beyond insufficient funding, corruption and poor supervision. Contractors use substandard materials and execute shoddy repairs, unchecked by authorities. To resolve this, road maintenance should be assigned to a single and accountable agency, abandoning the ineffective piecemeal approach. MC must enforce stringent quality standards and hold contractors and officials accountable for lapses. Timely pothole repairs and consistent monitoring are critical to ensure durable roads. The administration Must provide sufficient funds, ensure quality and accountability to restore the city’s roads to a safe and reliable state.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

Poor coordination to blame

The UT administration should take over road maintenance from the MC to improve efficiency, accountability and execution. Currently, poor coordination, limited technical capacity, and delayed response by the municipal body have led to deteriorating road conditions, frequent potholes, and substandard repairs. The UT administration has better access to funds, technical staff, and centralized decision-making, which can ensure higher-quality roads and faster project completion.

Brigadier Advitya Madan, Chandigarh

Bolster civic body’s income

Flooding and caving in roads, potholes are death trap for commuters and result in traffic snarls and accidents. Effective planning is need of an hour to face monsoon. The need is to increase MC’s income. The civic body could consider renting spaces like clubhouses, community centres, and encouraging tourism activities.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

Chandigarh