The North News
Chandigarh, April 9
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has approved an ambitious rural infrastructure campaign to repair and upgrade nearly 20,000 kilometres of link roads across the state at an estimated cost of ₹4,000 crore. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting in Chandigarh on Wednesday, aims to improve rural connectivity and boost economic activity in the hinterlands.
Describing the initiative as citizen-centric, Mann said that link roads are vital lifelines for rural residents and act as arteries of economic growth by supporting the movement of people, goods, and services. Many of these roads have exceeded their intended lifespan of six years and remain in disrepair.
To prioritise the work, the Chief Minister directed officials to categorise the roads into “top priority,” “priority,” and “needy” segments based on on-ground surveys. He also instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) and Punjab Mandi Board to ensure transparency and quality, adding that all contractors will be required to maintain the roads for a period of five years.
The government plans to implement the project using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to streamline planning and ensure optimal resource use. “AI will help us identify critical areas for construction and maintenance, saving public money and delivering higher quality infrastructure,” Mann said, adding that third-party inspections may also be considered to guarantee accountability.
The plan includes widening, strengthening, and upgrading rural link roads, with a strong emphasis on durability and equitable distribution of resources.
Present at the meeting were Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Ravi Bhagat.
