PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Rudrapur
The Rudrapur mayor Vikas Sharma rubbished allegations raised about the ring road project-considered the lifeline of the city-after he conducted a site inspection of the disputed part of the road. Countering the allegations of road damage due the construction of the ring road on social media by the former MLA and Congress leader, Rajkumar Thukral, the mayor termed it as ‘propaganda’ meant to mislead the people. “Some people are finding fault in the development works because they are scared of the changing face of the city,” he said.
During the inspection, the mayor, along with NHAI officials and a technical team, inspected the reported damaged portion. The site engineer, Tushar Gupta, present on the site, clarified that construction work is in its final stages. “Recent rainfall had caused a minor seepage of raw soil along the roadside, which technically cannot be considered a road breach,” he said. The officials assured that there was no damage to the asphalt and base structure of the main road. The road is being constructed according to the standards set by the authorities and the construction agency has provided a 15-year guarantee,” one of the officers said.
Speaking to media persons after the inspection, the mayor poured scorn on Thukral without naming him and said that the people of Rudrapur could no longer be taken for a ride.
“Calling the erosion of roadside soil a road scam is ridiculous. This is merely a deliberate plot to defame NHAI and the state government,” he said, adding that the ring road when completed will transform the traffic system and economic landscape of Rudrapur.
