The Punjab government has decided to establish a Special Road Maintenance Squad in every district.
It will establish the squad to ensure daily inspection, upkeep, cleanliness and timely repair of damaged roads. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved the proposal on Tuesday.
She approved the proposal while presiding over a special video-link meeting. The commissioners and deputy commissioners attended.
The chief minister directed the authorities to put in place an effective monitoring mechanism covering the scope, timelines, quality, expenditure and physical progress of every project. She ordered mandatory installation of cat’s eyes on specified urban roads. Maryam directed the use of thermoplastic road markings for greater durability and improved road safety.
The Punjab CM directed that authorities shun practice to construct concrete entrance gates at the entry points of cities and tehsils. Instead, they display each city’s name on a landscaped, green plot at its entrance. The government will provide median designs and landscaping at district entry and exit points. She directed the authorities to properly illuminate or decorate electricity poles along designated roads. And ensure appropriate lane markings, traffic signs and directional signage.
Special Road Maintenance Squad, Food Streets:
The chief minister ordered the authorities to plan food streets in designated and separate commercial areas, with adequate infrastructure, cleanliness, parking and traffic arrangements. She also directed the authorities to improve access, sanitation, traffic management and organised commercial activity at vegetable markets across the province.
Maryam Nawaz stressed that the authorities complete all projects according to approved designs, materials and technical standards. The government, she said, will make not compromise on transparency and quality.
The chief minister further directed that road safety measures conform to approved technical standards and that lighting installations be energy-efficient, durable, safe and easy to maintain.
She said district entry points should feature modern, contemporary designs, with Chinese city entrances serving as a reference. Approved design concepts should be followed for tehsil entrances with suitable modifications according to the local context.
Maryam ordered that roads should not have concrete structures in the middle without planters and called for proper landscaping of medians.
She directed the commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure close monitoring of development projects. And timely resolution of issues to maintain quality and prevent cost overruns.
