Road reconstruction project finally kicks off

Ludhiana: In a big relief for residents of Katani Kalan and nearby villages, the work of reconstruction of the road connecting the Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway with gurdwara Degsar Sahib has finally kicked off.
After almost a decade, the area residents and devotees who come to pay their obeisance at this gurdwara from nearby places will be able to experience a smooth ride on the stretch.
The residents of nearby villages claimed that they had been demanding reconstruction of the road since 2008 but to no avail. They said that many vehicles ply on this stretch especially on special occasions when people from Ludhiana, Rahon and Nawanshehr go to the gurdwara to pay obeisance.
The residents and devotees had staged a protest to demand repair of the road and two years back, filled the potholes themselves.
Manpreet Singh Dhami of SBS Kartar Singh Memorial Club, Katani Kalan, said, “We had knocked at all doors in the past to get the road reconstructed but to no avail. Now, after much delay, the work has finally been inaugurated and initiated at the ground level.”
He said although the work will be completed in a month, the residents will be relieved from the deep potholes.
Another resident Jagjit Singh said, “This road connects Southern bypass with Ludhiana Chandigarh Road and leads to gurdwara Degsar Sahib.”
He said the now the devotees, especially senior citizen women who had stopped going to offer prayers at the gurdwara, are happy as the work to repair the dilapidated road has finally commenced.
An official from the public works department said that the estimated cost of the project, including its maintenance cost, is Rs 1.84 crore.