2121 km long roads have been completed during the FY 2023-24: Harbhajan Singh ETO

Punjab Public Works Minister Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO on Tuesday said that during the financial year 2023-24, construction works of 2121 km long roads have been completed so far, and a total saving of 21 percent has been achieved due to the transparent bidding process adopted for these works.

Chairing the review meeting of the Public Works Department at the Punjab Civil Secretariat-2 here in the wake of resuming the road construction works from February 15 which were stopped due to winter and fog season, Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO appreciated the performance of the officials of the department. He also expressed confidence that all the remaining road works will also be completed as per the target by March 31 after reviewing the strategy being adopted by the department to complete the remaining 1954 km of road works as per the target fixed for this financial year.

During the meeting, Secretary PWD Mr. Priyank Bharti apprised the Minister in detail about the strategy of the department to achieve the targets set for the current financial year 2023-24. The Secretary said that the 2121 km of roads have been constructed so far at a cost of Rs. 1089 crores, and Rs 1066 crore will be spent on the remaining 1954 km of roads in this financial year. He said that the department has successfully saved Rs 263 crores which is 21 percent, by adopting a transparent bidding process for these works.

Congratulating the Public Works Department for its success, Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that in the financial year 2022-23, 4292 km of roads were constructed at a cost of Rs.1432 crore, and in the financial year 2023-24, a target of 4075 km of roads was set at a cost of Rs.2155 crore, which will be achieved successfully by the department. He said that given these achievements of the department, a target of constructing 2270 km of roads at a cost of Rs 2089 crore is being set for the financial year 2024-25.

The PWD Minister said that the Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Maan led Punjab government is not only committed to developing the best basic infrastructure in the state but the people’s money is also being spent honestly through a transparent process. Meanwhile, congratulating the recently promoted officers of the Public Works Department, he said that while timely promotion is being ensured in the department, carelessness or dishonesty in work by any officer or employee is not tolerated.