The North New
Chandigarh, February 10
Punjab Public Works and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh said on Monday that the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) Research Laboratory played a key role in maintaining construction quality while generating approximately ₹1.5 crore in fees from material testing during the 2024-25 financial year. The laboratory, the only facility under Punjab PWD (B&R) catering to multiple departments, conducts tests for Local Bodies, the Water Resources Department (WRD), Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), Panchayati Raj, the Punjab Mandi Board, and State Vigilance, among others, Singh said in a statement. Accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in 2022, the facility remains the only government lab in Punjab with this certification, valid until December 2028. The minister said its 59 tests meet stringent accuracy standards, with all equipment calibrated accordingly. “The lab is equipped with advanced Non-Destructive Testing tools, including a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) device, Nuclear Test Gauge, and traffic sign checking tools,” Singh said. He added that the facility is capable of conducting soil tests for foundations and analyzing construction materials such as bricks, gravel, sand, cement, concrete, bitumen, and iron bars. It also designs Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and Asphalt Concrete (AC) mixes for road and infrastructure projects.
Singh reiterated the Punjab government’s commitment, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, to uphold high construction standards. The PWD has been directed to conduct frequent quality checks, and efforts are underway to raise public awareness about quality assurance measures, he said.
