Link roads are expected to be a key issue that could influence the outcome of the 2027 Assembly elections in the Bhoa constituency, widely regarded as one of Punjab’s most underdeveloped regions.
Located in Pathankot district, Bhoa is a geographically remote border constituency. Residents have long struggled with damaged village infrastructure, largely due to the movement of overloaded trucks and tippers transporting material from the Ravi riverbed.
Link roads, which connect villages to one another and to major highways, are not designed to bear the weight of heavy mining vehicles. As a result, these roads frequently deteriorate, affecting connectivity and increasing transportation costs for residents. In Bhoa, these roads serve as vital links to the Pathankot-Gurdaspur-Amritsar National Highway.
Situated along the International Border and characterised by difficult terrain, the constituency has witnessed repeated damage to rural roads, allegedly caused by overloaded vehicles associated with sand mining activities. The excessive load often breaks up mud and gravel surfaces, leaving behind large and hazardous potholes.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, AAP candidate Lal Chand Kataruchak secured victory after focusing his campaign on local socio-economic concerns, including the condition of link roads.
During his tenure as a Cabinet Minister, Kataruchak has reportedly facilitated projects worth around Rs 200 crore aimed at making roads motorable. In addition, nearly Rs 62 crore has been spent on the construction of three bridges, reducing travel distances between villages. One such bridge has been built over the Jalali nullah, a seasonal rivulet, linking three important rural roads.
Recognising the significance of the issue, the ruling AAP has appointed Kataruchak as the nodal officer to oversee the repair of damaged roads and the construction of new ones.
Former MLA Joginder Pal, who won the seat in 2017, failed to retain it in 2022. Many residents attribute this to inadequate attention to road infrastructure during his tenure. “He was a Congress MLA and his party remained in power from 2017 to 2022. However, the issue of roads was never adequately addressed or taken up with the Chief Minister,” said Lubhana Rani, a resident of Bamiyal village.
