Recognizing that the festive week sees the highest volume of interstate and local traffic, the Haryana PWD has pivoted to emergency repair mode to prevent accidents and congestion caused by monsoon-ravaged roads.
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The Scope: The drive covers critical corridors including the Hisar-Rewari, Jind-Panipat, and Gurugram-Pataudi state highways. Over 200 maintenance teams have been deployed simultaneously across 22 districts.
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Technology at Work: For the first time on a state-wide scale, the PWD is using Jetpatcher machines and cold-mix bitumen, which can be applied even in damp conditions and allows traffic to pass within 30 minutes of repair.
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Prioritizing “Black Spots”: In coordination with the Haryana Police, the PWD is focusing first on 251 identified “black spots” where potholes have historically led to fatal accidents. “Our goal is zero potholes on the main carriage-way before the first day of Dhanteras,” said a senior PWD official.
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Accountability Measures:
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Geo-Tagging: Every repaired pothole must be photographed “before and after” with geo-tagged coordinates uploaded to the department’s monitoring app.
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Third-Party Audit: Random samples of the repair material are being tested in labs to ensure the patchwork doesn’t wash away in the first winter rain.
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Public Help: Citizens have been encouraged to report large potholes on the “Harpath Haryana” app. The department has promised a 48-hour turnaround time for any verified complaint received during this campaign.
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Impact on Travel: While the “war-footing” work is rapid, travelers are advised to expect minor delays in the afternoon hours on single-lane state roads where repair vans are stationed.
Administrative Warning: Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa warned that any contractor found using substandard materials or skipping the leveling process will be blacklisted. “The state’s roads are its mirror. We will not allow a few potholes to tarnish our image or endanger our citizens during the festival of lights,” the Minister added.
