Various roads in BRS Nagar, Model Town, Dugri and some in the interiors of the city are clamouring for immediate makeover. The residents’ welfare associations rue that time and again they have apprised the authorities about the condition of the roads but the request has fallen on the deaf ears.

“The roads in some areas are in pitiable condition. This only leads us to one question as to where the annual budget of over Rs 400 crore with the Municipal Corporation goes. We have many a times highlighted the problem, but plethora of excuses and false promises is what we get every time we approach the authorities concerned,” fumes Ajay Shahi, President, Residents’ Welfare Association, Ludhiana.

He added they had now been told that the work would start in March, as the tenders would be floated on February 13 and 14.

“Whether it is the road in front of the Orient Cinema or the one parallel the RS Model Senior Secondary School, they all speak volumes about the lax attitude of the authorities. We face a lot of problem wading through these bumpy roads,” said a resident of Shastri Nagar.

The residents complained that if at all funds are used; they are used in the areas where influential people reside.

“There are some roads where only patchwork could be sufficient, but roads are unnecessarily recarpeted while those that need to be fully recarpeted are left out. Another problem that highlights the bias towards the influential people is the construction of speed breakers before the houses of some people while the material could have been used to fill potholes. It is painful to see how our money, we pay in the form of taxes, is misused,” said Sonia Dhillon, a social activist and a resident of BRS Nagar.

It has been learnt that about Rs 5 crore has been allotted in the general quota, close to Rs 18 crore has been granted in the councillor quota for the purpose of the development of the city.