‘A Waste of Public Funds’: Dewan Slams Quality of Newly Laid Roads in Rajguru Nagar

Ludhiana, October 27, 2026: The newly constructed roads in Rajguru Nagar have become a glaring symbol of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust's (LIT) failure to safeguard public interest, with their ‘poor quality’, ‘visible defects’ and apparent violation of prescribed construction parameters reflecting a disregard for established norms and raising serious questions about accountability in the execution of civic works. These views were expressed by the former President of the District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Urban) and former Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, after he paid a visit to the area following requests from the local residents. 
In a statement issued here today, Dewan said he received calls from the Rajguru Nagar residents who complained about “gross irregularities” in the road construction work. After this, Dewan said, he paid a visit to the area, while adding, “Area residents informed that the entire road-laying work was carried out during the night and that the existing road surface was neither milled nor properly removed before a fresh layer was laid over it.” Dewan said he was shocked to find that the quality of the newly laid roads was extremely poor, with the thickness of the road surface appearing to be significantly below the prescribed standards.
Dewan further said that the quantity of material used in the road construction appeared to be inadequate, as evidenced by the road's thin surface and visible defects. He added that the bituminous surface of the roads has already started peeling off, while potholes have appeared at several locations. “This is nothing short of a sheer waste of public funds, as a road of such poor quality is unlikely to withstand the test of time. Moreover, commuters will be forced to endure considerable inconvenience due to its substandard condition,” he rued. Dewan demanded a thorough inquiry into the alleged irregularities and sought strict action against the concerned LIT officials and the contractor, with accountability being fixed for the deliberate lapses in the execution of the road construction work.
Meanwhile, Dewan also pointed out that the mandatory project signboards, which are required to disclose key details of road construction works, were nowhere to be seen at the site. He said such boards must prominently display vital information, including the date of commencement of the project, the road's length and prescribed thickness, the details of the contractor, the sanctioned project cost, material to be used, the expected lifespan of the road, the defect liability period during which the contractor remains responsible for rectifying any deficiencies and the particulars of the concerned SDO. 
“The absence of these signboards raises serious questions over transparency and accountability, besides depriving residents of the opportunity to verify whether the work is being executed in accordance with prescribed specifications and standards,” concluded Dewan. 
The area residents who accompanied Dewan include B.M.Kalia, Maninder Pal Singh Guglani, Bal Kishan Sharma , Surjit Singh Khurana, Rajnesh Sharma , Harbhagat Grewal, Brij Mohan Sharma and Varun Sharma.