Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced this plan and said tenders will be floated soon.

CM Bhagwant Mann Unveils Punjab’s INR 16,209 Crore Road Construction Drive

The CM Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has launched its massive road infrastructure drive in the state. A total of 44,920 kilometres of roads will be constructed at an estimated cost of INR 16,209 crore under the plan, according to official statements from the Chief Minister’s office.

The breakdown of this project is detailed as follows: 2,829 km will be newly built under the state’s Public Works Department (PWD), while 18,545 km are designated as rural link roads. Together, these will cost INR 7,727 crore. Another 22,291 km will be constructed under the jurisdiction of the state’s Mandi Board, and 1,255 km of municipal/urban roads will come under various civic bodies – at costs of around INR 7,697 crore and INR 785 crore, respectively.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced this plan and said tenders will be floated soon. He highlighted that contractors must adhere to strict standards and cautioned against any compromise on quality: no shortcuts, no substandard materials. Only after village-level bodies (panchayats) pass resolutions verifying satisfaction with material quality will payments be released.

According to official government sources, contractors will also have to maintain the roads for a minimum of five years; this is a clause focused on ensuring long-term durability rather than short-lived cosmetic construction.

Officials said the state government is going to fund the full project from its own resources, as funds from the Centre under the rural development scheme still remain unreleased.

For Punjab’s villages and small towns, this drive could mark a turning point: better access to markets, easier transport for farmers, smoother commutes, and improved connectivity. For urban and mandi-board roads too, it could ease congestion and facilitate trade, potentially boosting economic activity across the state.

However, meaningful outcomes depend on execution. The quality-control clauses, maintenance guarantee, and village-level oversight are positive signals; if followed strictly, this could set a new standard for infrastructure projects in Punjab. This scheme might well become a benchmark in state-level infrastructure planning, particularly if subsequent coverage by media and citizens keeps pressure on transparency and timely delivery.

Source: The Tribune