Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
18,900 km of rural roads to be built in Punjab under public scrutiny: Minister Tarunpreet Sond
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 12, 2025 – In a major push for rural infrastructure, the Punjab Government has launched a massive project to construct 18,900 kilometers of rural link roads under a transparent and corruption-free framework.
Announcing the initiative at a press conference, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said the first phase has begun with tenders issued for 828 kilometers of roads across Barnala, Faridkot, Pathankot, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
These roads will benefit several assembly constituencies including Bhadaur, Mehal Kalan, Kotkapura, and Banga.Tenders for another 12,500 kilometers will be issued by May 30, with the remaining tenders finalized by June 15.
First, contractors will also be responsible for maintaining the roads for five years, making them accountable for quality.
"If any road is damaged, the contractor will have to repair it without extra cost," said Sond, calling it a clear departure from past practices plagued by poor construction and corruption.
To ensure transparency, the entire process is being geo-tagged and monitored via photo-based mobile apps.
Project details will be uploaded to a public portal, allowing citizens to track progress. Village Panchayats will supervise construction and can report any quality issues directly to the government.
Contractors delivering substandard work will be blacklisted, the minister warned, reaffirming the government’s commitment to durable and transparent rural development.