PWD reviews road cutting; residents flag poor restoration work in Doon

Dehradun: Senior officials of the public works department (PWD), along with those from the district administration and other civic bodies, carried out inspections across Dehradun on Thursday to review road-cutting work and restoration. A road-cutting committee was also constituted to oversee such projects. Residents, however, have flagged poor quality of work done recently.PWD secretary Pankaj Pandey, along with district magistrate Savin Bansal, inspected key locations including Dilaram Chowk, Hathi Barkala, Sai Mandir, Nagal Road, Canal Road, Dhoran, IT Park, Lakshmi Road, Krishali Chowk, Sahastradhara Road, Curzon Road, Mohini Road, Dharampur Chowk, Chanchal Dairy, Phuvvara Chowk, Rispana Bridge, the Doon University area, Sapera Basti, Bengali Kothi, NH Haridwar Bypass, ISBT, Shimla Bypass Chowk, Niranjanpur Vegetable Market, Kamala Palace, Balliwala Chowk, Ballupur Chowk, Kishan Nagar Chowk, Yamuna Colony and Bindal Bridge.Officials said that at several sites, proper restoration had not been carried out and debris remained scattered on roads, potentially impeding traffic flow. Pandey directed officials to ensure 100% compliance with conditions laid down by the district administration while granting road-cutting permissions. "Upon completion of work, roads must undergo immediate and high-quality restoration, and debris must be cleared and disposed of. Work has to be done in a time-bound manner," he said. He added that strict action, as per rules, would be initiated against agencies or organisations that fail to adhere to prescribed timelines and conditions during road-cutting operations.Residents said poor execution continues to cause inconvenience and repeated repairs. "Repairs along Supply Road were carried out in late Oct, and barely four months later, the road is in tatters with huge potholes that may lead to accidents. With the rains approaching, repairs may not be carried out for another six months, and we will continue to face problems. The quality of work has to be improved for the repairs to hold," said Ajit Dhawan, a resident.Officials also directed quick response teams (QRTs) to remain vigilant and ensure work is carried out in the public interest. They said road-cutting permissions are granted for development works with specific budgets, timelines and standards, and the administration is responsible for ensuring compliance.A decision was also made to allow agencies to undertake road-cutting works at up to two or three locations at a time. New permissions will be granted only after completion of ongoing work within a stipulated 15–21 days. Affidavits have been obtained from agencies, stating that action may be initiated in case of violations.