Villagers in Bathinda pull up new road, claim shoddy construction
Residents of Kotbhara and Ramgarh Bhundar in Bathinda district say a freshly built road is crumbling and ripped off sections with their hands, accusing authorities of using inferior material.
People living in the Kotbhara and Ramgarh Bhundar villages of Bathinda district contend that a new road connecting the two settlements was built with poor-quality material, leading to sections of the surface flaking and breaking apart. In a dramatic protest, residents stripped away portions of the freshly laid road using only their hands to demonstrate the alleged shoddy workmanship. They have formally alerted authorities and are demanding that the construction be inspected and those responsible be held to account.
Their accusations arrive shortly after Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann told the state assembly that road projects are typically suspended during the monsoon months of July and August. Government officials, who asked to remain unnamed, pledged to look into the matter and take appropriate action based on their findings. The incident highlights tensions over infrastructure quality in a region prone to heavy rains.
Why it matters
It shows how poor infrastructure can spark community protest and pressure officials to ensure construction standards.
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