Khanna SDM Swati Tiwana directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to immediately identify and repair all potholes, damaged road sections and other defects on the highway stretch falling under the Khanna subdivision and to submit a compliance report within 48 hours. The administration also ordered additional monitoring and patrolling during the monsoon to deter negligence and to ensure prompt remedial action.

The directions were issued to the project director of NHAI's project implementation unit (PIU), Ludhiana, after the authority responded to a show-cause notice over alleged negligence in repairing potholes. In its reply NHAI said maintenance of the highway had been assigned to an operation and maintenance (O&M) contractor and that instructions had been issued for the immediate repair of identified defects.

Taking a strict view of the matter, Tiwana directed NHAI to re-identify all potholes, damaged stretches and other road defects across its jurisdiction in Khanna and to ensure their immediate repair. Officials were directed to take preventive measures at locations prone to waterlogging and to conduct regular inspections and patrolling during the rainy season. The SDM further directed NHAI to submit a compliance certificate to her office within 48 hours of receiving the directions.

The certificate must be signed by an authorised NHAI official or by the O&M contractor and contain brief details of all locations where repairs have been carried out. The move followed the death of Ratanheri sarpanch Amarjit Singh in a road accident on August six, and preliminary findings indicated a pothole on the carriageway as a possible factor in the mishap. Residents were encouraged to report defects to local authorities to support rapid remediation.