Mohali: Although adequate monsoon is essential for the region, civic authorities have not been able to cope with the rain. In Mohali and Chandigarh, major infrastructure projects have slowed down not because of an unforeseen emergency, but because of the monsoon everyone was waiting for.From the much-awaited alternate road to Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport to the redevelopment of Chandigarh Railway Station, work at multiple sites has been impacted due to the rainfall.One of the key projects affected is the 8.5km alternate road connecting Mohali with the airport. The road, being developed by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada), runs parallel to the existing Airport Road and begins near Phase XI, Mohali.The project, aimed at easing traffic congestion on the existing airport road, has already missed its June 30 completion target and is now unlikely to meet the revised July-end deadline as well.A major hurdle is construction of a parallel bridge over a seasonal choe, which is essential for making the alternate route fully operational. According to senior officials in Gmada’s engineering wing, heavy rains have significantly slowed construction activities at the bridge site. Shortage of bitumen and steel had already delayed the project, and the onset of the monsoon has further hampered progress.Last month, Gmada opened a carriageway of the alternate road for traffic after conducting trial runs, providing partial relief to commuters. However, the second carriageway remains incomplete, while several stretches are yet to receive the final bitumen layer and finishing works.Redevelopment of Chandigarh Railway Station has also come under scanner following heavy rainfall, with passengers facing inconvenience due to water leaking onto platforms from the roof. Several videos shared on social media showed rainwater pouring directly onto platforms, raising concerns over the quality and pace of construction.A senior official associated with the station redevelopment project said the leakage was temporary and occurred because portions of the roof are still under construction. He explained that several structural openings have intentionally been left uncovered until the installation of the remaining roofing components is completed.“The project is still under execution. Once the remaining roofing and finishing works are completed, these leakages will be eliminated. The redeveloped station will offer world-class, airport-like facilities to passengers,” the official said.Besides these large infrastructure projects, routine civic works have also been affected. Officials in the engineering wing said road recarpeting, resurfacing and patchwork across Mohali have been suspended for the monsoon season, as fresh bitumen work cannot be carried out during continuous rainfall. Repair work will resume once weather conditions improve.With the monsoon expected to continue over the coming weeks, authorities anticipate further delays in completing several ongoing public infrastructure projects.
