Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Swati Tiwana directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to identify and repair all potholes, damaged road sections and other defects on the highway stretch under the Khanna subdivision and to submit a compliance report within 48 hours. The directive required immediate action to address safety risks on the carriageway and emphasised enhanced monitoring during the monsoon season. The order was issued to the project director of NHAI’s project implementation unit (PIU), Ludhiana.

In its reply to a show-cause notice issued by the SDM, the NHAI said maintenance had been assigned to an operations and maintenance (O&M) contractor and that instructions had been issued for immediate pothole repair. The authority added that additional patrolling and monitoring had been ordered for the rainy period. Officials were directed to re-identify all defective stretches across the NHAI jurisdiction in Khanna and prioritise locations prone to waterlogging.

Tiwana took a strict view and required NHAI and its O&M contractor to ensure prompt remediation and to carry out preventive measures at vulnerable sites, including drainage clearance and temporary protections where necessary. Regular inspections and sustained patrolling were mandated for the duration of the monsoon to prevent recurrence of hazardous road conditions. The administration insisted that these steps be documented in the compliance submission.

The compliance report must be delivered to the SDM within 48 hours of receipt of the directions, and it must be signed by an authorised representative of the NHAI or the O&M contractor and contain brief details of each location where repairs have been completed. The move followed the death of Ratanheri sarpanch Amarjit Singh in a road accident on August six, with preliminary findings indicating a pothole on the carriageway as a possible contributing factor. Authorities said the measures aim to reduce risk and improve road safety for commuters in the Khanna subdivision.