PWD Minister directs officials to ensure construction quality, inspect bridges regularly and resolve identified road black spots
Dehradun, October 8: Uttarakhand requires ₹461.87 crore to reopen disaster-damaged roads and restore them to their original condition, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satpal Maharaj said during a review meeting with departmental officials in Dehradun on Thursday.
Chairing the meeting at the PWD auditorium in Yamuna Colony, Maharaj directed officials to conduct regular inspections of bridges and review pending and ongoing road construction projects district-wise. He stressed that the quality of roads and bridges must be closely monitored, including construction materials, bitumen surfacing, road thickness, laboratory testing and third-party quality assessments. He also called for accountability to be fixed wherever substandard construction is found.
The minister instructed officials to install signboards along alternative routes and at road diversion points. He also emphasised that road signage should be positioned at drivers’ eye level to improve visibility and ensure safer movement of traffic.
2,329 of 2,360 Disaster-Affected Roads Reopened
Providing details of the damage caused by disasters during the 2026–27 financial year, Maharaj said that 2,360 roads had been damaged, of which 2,329 had been reopened to traffic. The department continues to require funds to restore damaged routes and bring them back to their original condition.
He added that approximately 199 black spots had been identified on roads across the state. Officials have been directed to take necessary corrective measures to address these accident-prone locations.
1,327 Pothole Complaints Resolved
Reviewing the status of complaints received through the Gaddha Patchwork App, the minister said that 1,953 complaints had been received, of which 1,327 had been resolved. The remaining 626 cases, which fall under the jurisdiction of other departments, have been transferred to the respective authorities.
Maharaj also informed the meeting that Uttarakhand has 34 disused bridges, of which 21 are being brought back into use.
Reiterating the need for quality construction and effective monitoring, the minister directed officials to ensure timely action on pending works and maintain accountability in road and bridge infrastructure projects.
PWD Secretary Pankaj Pandey, Chief Engineer Rajesh Chandra Sharma, Chief Engineer Ranjit Rawat, Mukesh Parmar and other departmental officials attended the meeting.
