Chandigarh, November 21, 2025: A surprise inspection by the CM Flying Squad in Bhikhi on Monday led to the suspension of a junior engineer and a notice being issued to an SDO after serious irregularities were found in the construction of a rural road.
Officials said the squad inspected work on the Makha Chahal Special Connection Road, being built by the Market Committee, and found cracks on the newly laid surface, poor-quality material and violations of prescribed construction standards. Junior Engineer Gurpreet Singh of the Punjab Mandi Board, who was responsible for supervising the work, was suspended on the spot. A notice has also been issued to SDO Chamkaur Singh, and work under his charge has been withdrawn.
The CM Flying Squad, comprising senior engineers from the Punjab Mandi Board and the PWD, has been conducting unannounced checks across the state to monitor repair and construction of rural link roads. The inspections are part of a large-scale government project to repair and upgrade 19,491 km of rural roads at a cost of ₹4,150 crore. Contractors are required to maintain the upgraded stretches for the next five years.
Officials said the Bhikhi action follows repeated complaints of substandard work in rural pockets. They added that contractors could face recovery of funds and blacklisting if deficiencies persist. A third-party audit mechanism has also been introduced to strengthen oversight.
