Nawanshahr (Des Raj Bali):- During the 13th session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Bahujan Samaj Party MLA from Nawanshahr, Dr. Nachhatar Pal, raised the issue of the extremely poor condition of the Rahon–Mattewara road with Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, pointing out that commuters were facing great difficulties while travelling on this road.
In response, Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh said that special repair work on the Rahon–Mattewara road had been carried out in 2021. The road was now due for special repairs. Heavy mining-related traffic passes over this road, which has led to its deterioration. Therefore, the Deputy Director of the Research Laboratory, Patiala, had been approached for the pavement crust design. An estimate of ₹33 crore 88 lakh had been prepared, incorporating the road’s crust design and the retaining wall required at the site. A case had been submitted for the release of funds, and special repair work would be undertaken once the funds became available.
Thereafter, MLA Dr. Nachhatar Pal asked Public Works Minister Sardar Harbhajan Singh ETO to expedite the construction of the approximately 12-kilometre-long Rahon–Mattewara road. He stated that people from around 50 villages, including Rahon, Nawanshahr, Balachaur, Garhshankar and adjoining villages, use this road to travel to Ludhiana by crossing the bridge over the Sutlej River. He pointed out that deep potholes, approximately 10 feet deep in places, had developed near Barnala Khurd and Garhi Bharta, leaving the road severely damaged. Deep potholes were also present on the stretch from Tajpur to the Sutlej River, with mining being one of the main reasons for the road’s deterioration.
Referring to the roads constructed earlier at his request, including the Urapar–Rahon–Jadla road and the Machhiwara–Nawanshahr road, Dr. Nachhatar Pal appealed to the Public Works Minister to get the Rahon–Mattewara road constructed at the earliest to safeguard the lives and property of the public.
Responding to the MLA, the minister agreed that heavy traffic associated with mining was passing over the road, resulting in numerous potholes. He said that if the necessary research and laboratory work had been undertaken in 2021, the crust design could have been prepared and the road constructed then, preventing the present situation. He assured the House that the road was now being planned with a proper crust design and retaining walls.
The minister further stated that the stretch near Barnala Khurd and Bharta Kalan was particularly problematic. A two-kilometre section in this area was being planned for construction as a cement-concrete (CC) road to ensure greater strength and durability. He said the road would be built robustly so that heavy mining traffic would not cause similar problems in the future. Once the required design, research testing and approvals were received, the work would be completed as soon as possible.
