Panchkula: Mayor, MLA in credit war over road recarpeting as potholes still remain

Potholes on Sector 12 and Industrial Area road and on Old Panchkula road on Monday. Express photo by Sahil Walia

While residents continue to suffer because of potholed roads, Panchkula Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia and MLA Gian Chand Gupta have now started a new fight — credit war over the inaugural event of road recarpeting work. MLA Gian Chand Gupta performed the coconut breaking ceremony at Amartex Chowk on Sunday. Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia has shot off a letter to the municipal commissioner asking him as to why she was not invited to the event.

Ahluwalia said the officials were playing politics and did not want her to be there at the event so that she does not get the credit.

“I have the right to be there at the event. When I asked the commissioner, he said that the executive engineer was asked to call everybody and invite for the event who further asked another official. But I did no get any call and that is why I wrote a letter as to why I have been singled out,” Ahluwalia said.

The credit war is taking place even as people visiting Panchkula have to pass through potholed roads. The stretch outside Panchkula BJP office in Sector 2, the road taken by senior officials of the district administration was quickly given a makeover while there are many other stretches which are still lying as it is. Sectors 11, 20, 21, Majri Chowk, Sector 12A, Industrial Area all are full of potholes.

MLA Gian Chand Gupta told Chandigarh Newsline: “I do not have information about who was invited and who was not as it is the work of officials. As per the information I was given is that the mayor was invited, but she did not turn up. I do not understand why politics is being played on such a petty issue.”

Gupta added that it would still take 10 to 15 days for the patch work to be completed in other sectors.

“Our Chief Minister has given Rs 10 crore for the development works of the city. But it has been eight months and not even a single work has been carried out. Now it is the municipal corporation that has to allot the works and get it completed.”

According to the MC, the road recarpeting and repair work will start from Indira Colony, Labour Chowk to Sector 12A, Industrial Sector, Phase 1 and till the Highway.