Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered that no toll taxes be collected on highways until all potholes are repaired. During a meeting with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials on Tuesday, he set a deadline of October 10 for completing the repairs, ahead of major festivals such as Sharadiya Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali.

Addressing the officials, Adityanath emphasised that the festive season sees a surge in both domestic and international traffic and stressed the need for smooth road conditions to ensure a pleasant experience for all commuters. He highlighted the "collective responsibility" of ensuring high-quality road infrastructure and directed the use of Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology for road construction, which is cost-effective, conserves resources, and ensures durability.

The directive comes in response to the deteriorating condition of roads across the state due to recent heavy rains and flooding, affecting regions such as Noida’s NCR and the state capital, Lucknow. CM Yogi emphasised the need for strict adherence to quality standards in road maintenance, particularly for rural roads frequently used by farmers.

The Chief Minister further stated that construction agencies would be held accountable for road quality for five years post-completion, with clear guidelines in place. He assured that there would be no shortage of funds and called for improved inter-departmental coordination to enhance project planning and execution.

To ensure accountability, Adityanath directed departmental ministers and officers to conduct random field inspections and weekly reviews of ongoing projects. He also stressed the importance of mechanising road repairs, stating that all departments should be equipped with adequate machinery, and that patchwork should be automated for better efficiency.

Additionally, he instructed that proper restoration follow any work on sewer lines or pipelines to prevent damage to road surfaces. The Chief Minister recommended the use of table-top speed breakers as a safer alternative to traditional speed bumps, which often lead to accidents.

To monitor the progress, Adityanath urged for the geo-tagging of the entire pothole repair and road reconstruction campaign, linking it to the PM Gatishakti portal for oversight. He also proposed creating a dedicated portal for continuous monitoring of roadwork quality and emphasised the need to expedite repairs on expressways to ensure smooth travel during the festive season.

Lastly, CM Yogi directed that a comprehensive plan be developed for fixing roads constructed using MP and MLA funds to ensure consistent quality and durability across all state road projects.

(ABPLive)